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The alliterative
romance of Alexander
Alisaunder, Joseph Stevenson,
Leo, Bodleian Library, Roxburghe Club
X(- ^^7 [A I IJ
ENQUsh'
Oxford
LIBRARY
CONFINED TO THE LIBRARY.
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ALLITERATIVE ROMANCE
OF
ALEXANDER.
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THE
ALLITERATIVE ROMANCE
OF
aiefa j£© e &,
FROM
THE UNIQUE MANUSCRIPT IN THE ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM.
EDITED BY
THE REVEREND JOSEPH STEVENSON, M. A.,
VICAR OF LEIGHTON BUZZARD.
PRINTED FOR THE
&o*burgfje Club*
LONDON:
WILLIAM NICOL, SHAKSPEARE PRESS,
MDCCCXUX.
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MDCCCXLIX
THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCII AND
QUEENSBE11RY, K. G.,
PRESIDENT,
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE, K.G.
REV. BULKELEY BANDINEL, D.D.
THE DUKE OF SUTHERLAND, K.G.
NATHANIEL BLAND, ESQ.
EARL OF POWIS
REV. PHILIP BLISS, D.C.L., F.P.
EARL BROWNLOW,
BERIAH BOTFIELD, ESQ., Treasurer.
REV. WILLIAM EDWARD BUCKLEY, M. A,
EARL CAWDOR.
FRANCIS HENRY DICKINSON. I-'.SQ
EARL OF ELLESMERE.
HENRY HALLAM, ESQ.
EARL OF GOSFORD.
REV. EDWARD CRAVEN HAWTREY, D. D.
LORD VERNON,
RIGHT HON. SIR JAMES PARKE. REV. J. STUART HIPPISLEY HORNER, M. A.
HON. ROBERT CURZON, JUNIOR. ALEX. JAMES BERESFORD HOPE, ESQ.
HON. HUGH CHOLMONDELEY. JOHN ARTHUR LLOYD, ESQ.
HON. AND VERY REV. THE DEAN OF THOMAS PONTON, ESQ.
WINDSOR. ANDREW RUTHERFURD, ESQ.
SIR STEPHEN RICHARD GLYNNE, BART. EVELYN PHILIP SHIRLEY, ESQ.
SIR ROBERT HARRY INGUS, BART. WILLIAM STIRLING, ESQ.
SIR DAVID DUNDAS. GEORGE TOMLINE, ESQ.
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1812. PRESIDENT.
1. GEORGE JOHN, EARL SPENCER.
1812. 2. WILLIAM SPENCER, DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE.
1812. 3. GEORGE SPENCER CHURCHILL, MARQUIS OF BLANDFORD.
1817. DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.
1812. 4. GEORGE GRANVILLE LEVESON GOWER, EARL GOWER.
1833. MARQUIS OF STAFFORD.
1833. DUKE OF SUTHERLAND.
1812. 5. GEORGE HOWARD, VISCOUNT MORPETH.
1825. EARL OF CARLISLE.
1812. 6. JOHN CHARLES SPENCER, VISCOUNT ALTHORP.
1834. EARL SPENCER.
1812. 7. SIR MARK MASTERMAN SYKES, BART.
1812. 8. SIR SAMUEL EGERTON BRYDGES, BART.
1812. 9. WILLIAM BENTHAM, ESQ.
1812. 10. WILLIAM BOLLAND, ESQ.
1829. SIR WILLIAM BOLLAND, KNT.
1812. 11. JAMES BOSWELL, ESQ.
1812. 12. REV. WILLIAM HOLWELL CARR.
1812. 13. JOHN DENT, ESQ.
1812. 14. REV. THOMAS FROGN^LL DIBDIN.
1812. 15. REV. HENRY DRURY.
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1812.
1812.
1812.
1812.
1812.
1812.
1812.
1812.
1812.
1812.
1812.
1812.
1812.
1812.
1812.
18)2.
1816.
1819.
1822.
1822.
1822.
1823.
1827.
1828.
1830.
1831.
1834.
1834.
1834.
16. FRANCIS FREELING, ESQ.
1828. SIR FRANCIS FREELING, BART.
17. GEORGE HENRY FREELING, ESQ.
1836. SIR GEORGE HENRY FREELING, BART.
18. JOSEPH HASLEWOOD, ESQ.
19. RICHARD HEBER, ESQ.
20. REV. THOMAS CUTHBERT HEBER.
21. GEORGE ISTED, ESQ.
22. ROBERT LANG, ESQ.
23. JOSEPH LITTLEDALE, ESQ.
1824. SIR JOSEPH LITTLEDALE, KNT.
24. JAMES HEYWOOD MARKLAND, ESQ.
25. JOHN DELAFIELD PHELPS, ESQ.
26. THOMAS PONTON, ESQ.
27. PEREGRINE TOWNLEY, ESQ.
28. EDWARD VERNON UTTERSON, ESQ.
29. ROGER WILBRAHAM, ESQ.
30. REV. JAMES WILLIAM DODD.
31. EDWARD LITTLEDALE, ESQ.
32. GEORGE HIBBERT, ESQ.
33. SIR ALEXANDER BOSWELL, BART.
34. GEORGE WATSON TAYLOR, ESQ.
35. - JOHN ARTHUR LLOYD, ESQ.
36. VENERABLE ARCHDEACON WRANGHAM.
37. THE AUTHOR OF WAVERLEY.
1827. SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART.
38. HON. AND REV. GEORGE NEVILLE GRENVILLE.
1846. DEAN OF WINDSOR.
39. EDWARD HERBERT, VISCOUNT CLIVE.
1839. EARL OF POWIS.
40. JOHN FREDERICK, EARL CAWDOR.
41. REV. EDWARD CRAVEN HAWTREY, D.D.
42. SIR STEPHEN RICHARD GLYNNE, BART.
43. BENJAMIN BARNARD, ESQ.
44. VENERABLE ARCHDEACON BUTLER, D. D.
1836. SAMUEL, LORD BISHOP OF LICHFIELD.
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1835. PRESIDENT.
1835.
1836.
1836.
1836.
1836.
1837.
1838.
1838.
1839.
1839.
1839.
1839.
1840.
1841.
1842.
1842.
1844.
1844.
1844.
1845.
1846.
1846.
1846.
1847.
1848.
1848.
1849.
EDWARD, VISCOUNT CLIVE.
1839. EARL OF POWIS.
45. WALTER FRANCIS, DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH AND QUEENSBERRY.
46. RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD FRANCIS EGERTON.
1846. EARL OF ELLESMERE.
47. ARCHIBALD ACHESON, VISCOUNT ACHESON.
1849. EARL OF GOSFORD.
48. BERIAH BOTFIELD, ESQ.
49. HENRY HALLAM, ESQ.
50. PHILIP HENRY STANHOPE, VISCOUNT MAHON.
51. GEORGE JOHN, LORD VERNON.
52. REV. PHILIP BUSS, D. C. L.
53. RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR JAMES PARKE, KNT.
54. REV. BULKELEY BANDINEL, D. D.
55. WILUAM HENRY MILLER, ESQ.
56. EVELYN PHIUP SHIRLEY, ESQ.
57. EDWARD JAMES HERBERT, VISCOUNT CLIVE.
1848. EARL OF POWIS.
58. DAVID DUNDAS, ESQ.
1847. SIR DAVID DUNDAS, KNT.
59. JOHN, EARL BROWNLOW.
60. HONOURABLE HUGH CHOLMONDELEY.
61. SIR ROBERT HARRY INGUS, BART.
62. ALEXANDER JAMES BERESFORD HOPE, ESQ.
63. REV. HENRY WELLESLEY.
64. ANDREW RUTHERFURD, ESQ.
65. HON. ROBERT CURZON, JUN.
66. GEORGE TOMLINE, ESQ.
67. WILUAM ST1RUNG, ESQ.
68. FRANCIS HENRY DICKINSON, ESQ.
1848. PRESIDENT.
WALTER FRANCIS, DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH AND QUEENSBERRY, K. G.
69. NATHANIEL BLAND, ESQ.
70. REV. WILUAM EDWARD BUCKLEY.
71. REV. JOHN STUART HIPPISLEY HORNER.
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ftojrburgjje Club.
CATALOGUE OF THE BOOKS
PRESENTED TO
AND PRINTED BY THE CLUB.
LONDON:
MDCCCXL1X.
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CATALOGUE.
Certaine Bokes of Virgiles Aenaeis, turned into English Meter.
By the Right Honorable Lorde, Henry Earle of Surrey.
William Bolland, Esq. 1814.
Caltha Poetarum ; or, The Bumble Bee. By T. Cutwode, Esq.
Richard Heber, Esq. 1815.
The Three First Books of Ovid de Tristibus, Translated into
English. By Thomas Churchyarde.
Earl Spencer, President. 1816.
Poems. By Richard Barnfield.
James Boswell, Esq. 1816.
Dolarny’s Primerose or The First Part of the Passionate Hermit.
Sir Francis Freeling, Bart. 1816.
La Contenance de la Table.
George Henry Freeling, Esq. 1816.
Newes from Scotland, declaring the Damnable Life of Doctor
Fian, a notable Sorcerer, who was burned at Edenbrough
in Ianuarie last 1591.
George Henry Freeling, Esq. 1816.
A proper new Interlude of the World and the Child, otherwise called
Mundus et Infans.
Viscount Althorp. 1817.
Hagthorpe Revived ; or Select Specimens of a Forgotten Poet.
Sir Samuel Egerton Brydges, Bart. 1817.
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Istoria novellamente ritrovata di due nobili Amanti, &c. da Luigi
Porto.
Rev. William Holwell Carr. 1817.
The Funeralles of King Edward the Sixt.
Rev. James William Dodd. 1817.
A Roxburghe Garland, 12mo.
James Boswell, Esq. 1817
Cock Lorell’s Boat, a Fragment from the original in the British
Museum.
Rev. Henry Drury. 1817.
Le Livre du Faucon.
Robert Lang, Esq. 1817.
The Glutton’s Feaver. By Thomas Bancroft.
John Delafield Phelps, Esq. 1817.
The Chorle and the Birde.
Sir Mark Masterman Sykes, Bart. 1818.
Daiphantus, or the Passions of Love. By Antony Scoloker.
Roger Wilbraham, Esq. 1818.
The Complaint of a Lover’s Life.
Controversy between a Lover and a Jay.
Rev. Thomas Frognall Dibdin, Vice President. 1818.
Balades and other Poems. By John Gower. Printed from the
original Manuscript, in the Library of the Marquis of Stafford,
at Trentham.
Earl Gower. 1818.
Diana ; or the excellent conceitful Sonnets of H. C., supposed to
have been printed either in 1592 or 1594.
Edward Littledale, Esq. 1818.
Chester Mysteries. De Deluvio Noe. De Occisjone Innocentium.
James Heywood Markland, Esq. 1818.
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5
Ceremonial at the Marriage of Mary Queen of Scotts with the
Dauphin of France.
William Bentham, Esq. 1818.
The Solempnities and Triumphes doon and made at the Spousells
and Marriage of the King’s Daughter the Ladye Marye to the
Prynce of Castile, Archeduke of Austrige.
John Dent, Esq. 1818.
The Life of St. Ursula.
Guiscard and Sigismund.
Duke op Devonshire. 1818.
Le Morte Arthur. The Adventures of Sir Launcelot Du Lake.
Thomas Ponton, Esq. 1819.
Six Bookes of Metamorphoseos in whyche ben conteyned the Fables
of Ovyde. Translated out of Frensshe into Englysshe by
William Caxton. Printed from a Manuscript in the Library
of Mr. Secretary Pepys, in the College of St. Mary Magdalen,
in the University of Cambridge.
George Hibbert, Esq. 1819.
Cheuelere Assigne.
Edward Vernon Utterson, Esq. 1820.
Two Interludes : Jack Jugler and Thersytes.
Joseph Haslewood, Esq. 1820.
The New Notborune Mayd. The Boke of Mayd Emlyn.
George Isted, Esq. 1820.
The Book of Life ; a Bibliographical Melody.
Dedicated to the Roxburghe Club by Richard Thomson,
8vo. 1820.
Magnyfycence : an Interlude. By John Skelton, Poet Laureat to
Henry VIII.
Joseph Littledale, Esq. 1821.
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6
Judicium, a Pageant. Extracted from the Towneley Manuscript of
Ancient Mysteries.
Peregrine Edward Towneley, Esq. 1822.
An Elegiacal Poem, on the Death of Thomas Lord Grey, of Wilton.
By Robert Marston. From a Manuscript in the Libraiy
of the Right Honourable Thomas Grenville.
Viscount Morpeth. 1822.
Selections from the Works of Thomas Ravenscroft; a Musical
Composer of the time of King James the First.
Duke of Marlborough. 1822.
Laslii Peregrin i Oratio in obitum Torquati Tassi. Editio secunda.
Sir Samuel Egerton Brydges, Bart. 1822,
The Hors, the Shepe, and the Ghoos.
Sir Mark Masterman Sykes, Bart. 1822.
The Metrical Life of Saint Robert of Knaresborough.
Rev. Henry Drury. 1824.
Informacon for Pylgrymes unto the Holy Londe. From a rare Tract,
in the Library of the Faculty of Advocates, Edinburgh.
George Henry Freeling, Esq. 1824.
The Cuck-Queanes and Cuckolds Errants or the Bearing Down the
Inne, a Comaedie. The Faery Pastorall or Forrest of Elues.
By W P , Esq.
John Arthur Lloyd, Esq. 1824.
The Garden Plot, an Allegorical Poem, inscribed to Queen Elizabeth.
By Henry Goldingham. From an unpublished Manuscript
of the Harleian Collection in the British Museum. To which
are added some account of the Author ; also a reprint of his
Masques performed before the Queen at Norwich, on Thursday,
August 21, 1578.
Venerable Archdeacon Wrangham. 1825.
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La Rotta de Francciosi a Terroana novamente facta.
La Rotta de Scocesi.
Earl Spencer, President. 1825.
Nouvelle Edition d’un Poeme sur la Joumee de Guinegate.
Presented by the Marquis de Fortia. 1825.
Zuleima, par C. Pichler. 12mo.
Presented by H. de Chateaugiron. 1825.
Poems, written in English, by Charles Duke of Orleans, during
his Captivity in England after the Battle of Azincourt.
George Watson Taylor, Esq. 1827.
Proceedings in the Court Martial, held upon John, Master of Sinclair,
Captain-Lieutenant in Preston’s Regiment, for the Murder of
Ensign Schaw of the same Regiment, and Captain Schaw, of the
Royals, 17 October, 1708 ; with Correspondence respecting that
Transaction.
Sir Walter Scott, Bart. 1828.
The Ancient English Romance of Havelok the Dane ; accompanied
by the French Text : with an Introduction, Notes, and a Glos-
sary. By Frederick Madden, Esq.
Printed for the Club. 1828.
Gaufridi Arthurii Monemuthensis Archidiaconi, postea vero
Episcopi Asaphensis, de Vita et Vaticiniis Merlini Calidonii,
Carmen Heroicum.
Hon. and Rev. G. Neville Grenville. 1830.
The Ancient English Romance of William and the Werwolf ; edited
from an unique copy in King’s College Library, Cambridge ;
with an Introduction and Glossary. By Frederick Madden,
Esq.
Earl Cawdor. 1832.
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8
The Private Diary of William, first Earl Cowper, Lord Chan-
cellor of England.
Rev. Edward Craven Hawtrey. 1833.
The Lyvys of Seyntes ; translated into Englys be a Doctour of
Dyuynite clepyd Osbern Bokenam, frer Austyn of the Con-
vent of Stockclare.
Viscount Clive, President. 1835.
A Little Boke of Ballads.
Dedicated to the Club by E. V. Utterson, Esq. 1836.
The Love of Wales to their Soueraigne Prince, expressed in a true
Relation of the Solemnity held at Ludlow, in the Countie of
Salop, upon the fourth of November last past, Anno Domini
1616, being the day of the Creation of the high and mighty
Charles, Prince of Wales, and Earle of Chester, in his Maiestie’s
Palace of White-Hall.
Presented by the Honourable R. H. Clive. 1837.
Sidneiana, being a collection of Fragments relative to Sir Philip Sid-
ney, Knight, and his immediate Connexions.
Bishop of Lichfield. 1837.
The Owl and the Nightingale, a Poem of the twelfth Century.
Now first printed from Manuscripts in the Cottonian Library,
and at Jesus College, Oxford ; with an Introduction and Glossary.
Edited by Josephus Stevenson, Esq.
Sir Stephen Richard Glynne, Bart. 1838.
The Old English Version of the Gesta Romanorum : edited for the
first time from Manuscripts in the British Museum and Uni-
versity Library, Cambridge ; with an Introduction and Notes by
Sir Frederick Madden, K. H.
Printed for the Club. 1838.
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9
Illustrations of Ancient State and Chivalry, from MSS. preserved in
the Ashmolean Museum, with an Appendix.
Benjamin Barnard, Esq. 1840.
Manners and Household Expenses of England in the thirteenth and
fifteenth Centuries, illustrated by Original Records. I. House-
hold Roll of Eleanor, Countess of Leicester, A.D. 1265. II. Ac-
counts of the Executors of Eleanor, Queen Consort of Edward I.
A.D. 1291. III. Accounts and Memoranda of Sir John Howard,
first Duke of Norfolk, A.D. 1462 to A.D. 1471.
Beriah Botfield, Esq. 1841.
The Black Prince, an Historical Poem, written in French, by ChandOv
herald ; with a Translation and Notes, by the Rev. Henry
Octavius Coxe, M.A.
Printed for the Club. 1842.
The Decline of the last Stuarts. Extracts from the Despatches of
British Envoys to the Secretary of State.
Printed for the Club. 1843.
Vox Populi Vox Dei, a Complaynt of the Comons against Taxes.
Presented according to the Direction of the late
Right Hon. Sir Joseph Littledale, Knt. 1843.
Household Books of John Duke of Norfolk, and Thomas Earl of
Surrey ; Temp. 1481 — 1490. From the original Manuscripts
in the Libraiy of the Society of Antiquaries, London. Edited
by J. Payne Collier, Esq., F.S.A.
Printed for the Club. 1844.
Three Collections of English Poetry of the latter part of the Sixteenth
Century.
Presented by the Duke of Northumberland, K.G. 1845.
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10
Historical Papers, Part I. Castra Regia, a Treatise on the Succession
to the Crown of England, addressed to Queen Elizabeth by
Roger Edwards, Esq., in 1568.* Novissima Straffordii, Some
account of the Proceedings against, and Demeanor of, Thomas
Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, both before and during his trial,
as well as at his Execution ; written in Latin, by Abraham
Wright, Vicar of Okeham, in Rutlandshire. The same
(endeauord) in English, by James Wright, Barrister at Law.
Rev. Philip Bliss, D. C. L., and
Rev. Bulkeley Bandinel, 1846.
Correspondence of Sir Henry Unton, Knt., Ambassador from Queen
Elizabeth to Henry IV. King of France, in the years MDXCI.
and MDXCII. From the originals and authentic copies in the
State Paper Office, the British Museum, and the Bodleian Li-
braiy. Edited by the Rev. Joseph Stevenson, M. A.
Printed for the Club. 1847.
La Vraie Cronicque d’Escoce. Pretensions des Anglois a la Couronne
de France. Diplome de Jacques VI. Roi de la Grande Bre-
tagne. Drawn from the Burgundian Library, by Major Robert
Anstruther.
Printed for the Club. 1847.
The Sherley Brothers, an Historical Memoir of the Lives of Sir
Thomas Sherley, Sir Anthony Sherley, and Sir Robert Sherley,
Knights, by one of the same House. Edited and Presented by
Evelyn Philip Shirley, Esq. 1848.
The Alliterative Romance of Alexander. From the unique Manu-
script in the Ashmolean Museum. Edited by the Rev. Joseph
Stevenson, M. A.
Printed for the Club. 1849.
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PREFACE.
The alliterative poem contained in the following pages be-
longs to that widely diffused cycle of romantic fiction of which
the emperor Alexander of Macedon is the hero. Traces of its
existence occur in the literature of nearly every nation of Europe
from Greece to Scandinavia ; and the poets of Turkey, Persia
and Arabia have celebrated the exploits of this great conqueror.
The source to which the poem, with which we are at this
time more immediately concerned is to be referred, is un-
doubtedly the Latin version of the Greek romance written by
Simon Seth, the keeper of the Imperial wardrobe in the palace
of Antiochus at Constantinople, about the year 1070, under the
emperor Michael Ducas. This in its turn, is to be referred to
an Oriental prototype. The Latin version rapidly obtained
great popularity throughout Europe, and became the ground-
work of many poems in the languages of France and England.
There is some obscurity in many of the details connected with
these versions, more especially as to those written in the French
language ; but on these questions we are not concerned to enter.
Our remarks shall be confined to the poem now before us.
There is no evidence to enable us peremptorily to decide
from what source the outline of the story is derived, whether
a
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11
from the French or the Latin, nor can we come to any very ac-
curate conclusion as to the name, the quality, the date, or the
locality of its author. That it is a translation, more or less close,
is rendered certain by the poet appealing to the authority whence
he obtained his information. He tells us, in several places, that
he conducts his narrative “ as the buke tellis,” or “ as the text
recordis. He follows the arrangement of the manuscript
formerly belonging to the Due de la Valliere, (No. 2702.) in
separating the whole narrative into two great divisions, of which
the former contains an account of the birth and youthful ex-
ploits of Alexander, and the second embraces the conclusion of
his career.* The whole is divided into " fitts ”+ or “ passes/^
and ends abruptly and imperfectly in the middle of the Twenty-
seventh Passus. It appears however that but little was required
to complete the narrative, and it is probable that not more than
one gathering, or at most two, have been lost. Nor can this
deficiency be supplied from any other authority, since the Ash-
mole manuscript is unique. Another fragment, yet less perfect
than that from which our text is derived, is preserved in the
library of the University of Dublin, but it ends at an earlier
period of the narrative. An account of it is given in the note
below.§
* See De Bure, Catalogue des livres de M. le Due de la Valliere,
tom. ii. p. 158. and compare the present volume, p. 1 18. The same ar-
rangement is observable in the early metrical romance published by Weber
in his collection, see ii. 197-
f See pp. 109. 137. 161. 192. t See pp. 97. 178.
§ This manuscript, lettered, D iv. 12. is a small quarto volume, written
upon paper towards the end of the fifteenth century. It contains a copy
of the Visions of Piers Plouhman, which ends imperfectly in the Seventh
Passus. The Romance of Alexander then follows, commencing with line
678 of our text, and ends with the line 3426. This fragment consists
therefore of 2748 lines. I am indebted for my acquaintance with it to the
kindness of Sir F. Madden.
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Ill
Of the author nothing is known from either external or in-
ternal evidence. If any weight can be assigned to the few
remarks which occur towards the beginning and end of several
of the “ fittes,” it would appear that this romance was intended
to be recited for the amusement of the auditory who gathered
round the minstrels of the middle ages.
The period when it was composed is also uncertain. There
is no reason to conclude that it is anterior to the date of the
manuscript from which it is here printed, the middle, namely,
of the fifteenth century. The Dublin fragment is of a still later
period. The poem exhibits archaisms, it is true, which might
be referred to an earlier stage of our language ; but it is certain,
from what we know of our early literature, that these peculiarities
of expression afford no certain criteria from which to argue as
to the age of a poem written in alliterative metre. The writers
who adopted that form of composition assumed to themselves
the liberty of employing a conventional mode of expression
which embodies a vocabulary and a construction pointing at a
period long anterior to that in which they themselves lived, and
of which we find no traces in the final-rhyme poetry or the
prose of their contemporaries. Upon these therefore, viewed
singly and apart from other evidence, we can come to no cer-
tain conclusion.
Still more obscure is the information which we possess as to
the locality in which this poem was written. Speaking with that
diffidence which the obscurity of this portion of the subject de-
mands, we may hazard the conjecture that this romance was
written in one of the north-eastern counties of the midland divi-
sion of England, some district in which the Anglian dialect had
originally prevailed, untinctured however by those peculiarities
of vocabulary and construction which characterize the language
of ancient Northumbria.
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IV
The manuscript from which the text of the present volume
is printed is preserved in the Ashmole&n Museum at Oxford,
No. xliv., of its history previous to its acquisition by the founder
of that collection nothing is known. It is on paper, written by
a hand, coarse, rough and irregular, without any attempt at
neatness and without much regard to accuracy. The errors
into which the scribe has fallen seem to indicate, in some in-
stances, that he was unable to read correctly the copy which he
had before him, while others would appear to shew that he
wrote from dictation.
Appended is a fragment also written in alliterative metre
which treats of the exploits of Alexander, and which it has been
thought expedient to include in this volume. It is given from
the well-known Bodleian Copy of the French Alexander (MS.
Bodl. 2641.) a deficiency in the text of which it supplies, ac-
cording to the explanation furnished by the following memo-
randum.
“ Here fayleth a prossesse of this romaunce of Alexander, the
wheche prossesse that fayleth ye schulle fynde at the ende of
this boke, ywrete in Engelyche ryme; and whanne ye have
redde it to the ende, turneth hedur ajen, and tumeth ovyr this
lefe, and bygynneth at this resoun, * Che fu el mois de May qui
li tans renovele/ and so rede forth the romaunce to the ende,
whylis the Frenche lasteth.”
This French romance was finished by its transcriber in the
year 1338 ; the illuminations by Jehan de Grise, were not com-
pleted until 1344.
This seems the most appropriate place to mention the ex-
istence of another alliterative poem, upon the same subject, the
only remaining portion of which is contained in the Graves
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V
Manuscript, No, lx.,* written late in the sixteenth century. It
is entitled u The gestes of the worthie king and emperour
Alisaunder of Macedoine,” and commences thus,
Yee that lengen in londe/lordes and oother
Beumes or bacheler3/that boldely thinken
Outher in werre or in wo/wightly to dwell
For to lachen hem lose /in hur life time
Or dere thinken to doo/deedes of armes
To be proved for pris/and prest of hemselve
Tend yee tytely to mee/and take goode heede
I shall sigge forsothe/ensaumples ynow
Of one the boldest beum/and best of his deeds
That evir steede bestrode /or steme was holden
Now shall I carp of a king/kid in his time
That had londes and leedes/and lordshipes feole.f
The narrative proceeds in much the same manner as the
poem here printed ; they differ however in this respect, that
the Graves fragment dwells at greater length upon the incidents
which preceded the birth of Alexander. It consists of about
1400 lines. The author tells us that his original was the Latin.J
It is conjectured by Sir F. Madden (to whom I beg leave to
offer ray thanks for his kindness in making me acquainted with
this manuscript) from internal evidence that this romance (of
which the original copy is probably lost,) must have been written
by the same versifier who translated the poem of William and
* No. 3832. ia the General Catalogue of the Bodleian Library.
f Fell feole MS.
X Of what kinne he comme/can I nought fynde
In no booke that I bed [had] / when I beganne here
The Latine to this language /lelliche turne.
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the Werwolf into English verse from the French. If this con-
jecture be admissible, and there seems every reason to adopt it,
the poem, of which this fragment is preserved, must be referred
to about the middle of the fourteenth century.
Joseph Stevenson.
Leighton Buzzard,
June, 1850.
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Romance of aiejratt&er t&e dSreat.
W hen folk ere festid and fed/fayn wald thai here
Sum farand thinge efter fode/to fayne thare herte
Or thai ware fourmed one fold / or thaire fadirs other
Sum is leve to lythe/the lesing of sayntis
That lete ther lifis be lorne/for oure Lordes sake 5
And sum has langing of lufe/lays to herken
How ledis for thaire lemmans/has langore endured
Sum covettis and has comforth/to carpe and to lestyn
Of curtaissy of knyjthode / of craftis of armys
Of kyngis at has conquirid/and overcomyne landis 10
Sum of wirship iwis/slike as thame wyse lattes
And summ of wanton werkis/tha that ere wild hedide
Bot if thai wald one many wyse /a wondire ware et els
For as thair wittis ere within /so ther wille folowis
And I forwart 30W alle/ettitlis to schewe 15
Of ane emperoure the ojefullest/that ever armys hauntid
That was the athill Alexsandire/as the buke tellis
That a 3 te evyn as his awyne/alle the werde ovire
B
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For he recoverde quills he regnyd/the regions alle clene
And alle rialme and the riches /in to the rede est 20
I salle rehers and 3 e will renkis/rekyn jour tongis
A remnant of his rialte/and list quen us likis
Oute in the erth of Egipt/enhabet umquile
The wysest wees of the werd/as I in writ fynde
For thai the mesure and the mett/of alle the mulde couthe 25
The sise of alle the grete see /and of the gryme wawys
Of the ordere of that odde home /that overe the aire hingis
Knew the kynd and the curses /of the clere sternys
Of Articus the aghill/Treairis and othire
Of the folde and of the firmament /wele the fete cuthe 30
And Antarticus also /that all apone turays
The pasage of the pianettes /the poyntes and the sygnes
Thai ware the kiddest of that craft /knawyn in thaire tyme
And the sotellest undere son/segis in thaire lyfe
Thus ware thai breved for the best/as the buke tellis 35
Alle thai lerid of that o lare/that it lere walde
As wide as the werd was /went worde of thaire teching
Of sorsery and slike werkis/sle 3 tes enoghe
And the kyng of that contre/was a clerke noble
The athelest ane of the werd /and Anec was hatten 40
He was wyse eno 3 e/wirdis to reken
When he the hevyn beheld /of lede opon lyfe
The japis of alle gemetri/gentilli he couth
And wele as Aristotille/the arris all sevyn
There preved never nane his prik/for passinge of witt 45
Plato nor Piktagaras/ne Prektane him selven
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Emang his duykis on a day /as he on dese syttis
Than was him bodword unblyth/brojt to the sale
That Artaxenses was armed /with the men of his rewme
The proud king of Persy/to pase him agayn 50
Thoje he tha sawis herd say / 3 k samyd he na princis
Ne eft ordand he nane/of na kyd kny 3 tis
Bot airis even furth him ane/and entirs his chambre
To knaw by his clergi/the come of his faa
He takis a boll of bras/bumeschid fixlle clene 55
And fulle he fillis it of the flode/at felle fraye heven
On hi 3 t in his a hand/ he haldis a wande
And kenely be conjurisons/callis to him sprites
Into this water as he waites /was he ware sone
Of his enimys in that element/ ane endles nombre 60
He sa 3 e thame in the hi 3 e see/sailand togedire
Was never sene slike a some/undir the son bemys
Carrygis comand he knew/kervand the ithis
Dromonde dryfes over the depe/with dukis and erles
Gales and grete schipis/full of grym wapens 65
And fulle of breneid bemes/bargis a hundreth
Of slik a nave is noy/to here or to tell
For all the largenes of lenth/at he luke my 3 t
Slik was the multitude of mast /so mekil and so thike
That alle him tho 3 t bot he treis/a hare wod or myd 70
At the enteris of Egipt/as Anec had beden
Ware peris of his provynce/and princes of his cytes
Was comandid of thaire kyng/to kepe tha landis
That nane aproche it to paire/of Persy ne othir
Than was a wardane ware/oute in the wale stremys 75
Of all the nave and the note / 1 nevenyd before
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Lajt lijtly his ledis/and levys his warde
Comes to courte to the kyng/and on kneys fallis
Anec bi his awyn name /he onane gretis
Sais jare the now 5 apely/or 3 ild up thi rewme 80
Artaxenses is at hand /and his ane ost reryd
And resyn up with all his rewme /to ride us agayn
For he himself is one the se/with siche a somme armed
That any hathill under heven/ware hardy to rekyn
For thare is corny n with him kny 3 tes / of landis dy verse 85
Segis of many syde/oute of sere remys
The Perseyns and a pupill/that Pan thy is callide
Men of Mesepotayme/and of Mede bathe
Of Syre and of Sychim/a selle noimbre
Of Capidos and Caldec/kene men of armes 90
Felle fe 3 tand folke/that Faire doe calle
The Arrabiens/and alle tha that 03 igyne
Bemys out of Batary / bataile arayed
And othir out of the orient /many od hundrethe
Then Anec onane /n 3 t efter thire wordis 95
A lowde la 3 ter he lo 3 e/and to the lede said
Have thou na care quoth the kyng/bot kepe to the merche
As I have demyd the to do /and dred thou na ferryre
For soth it is umsemely/slike sawis of a prynce
I kan no 3 t knaw at thou carpis/as a kny 3 t suld 100
But as a frek at ware ferid/and feynes ri 3 t nowe
Ert thou no 3 t hurtles and hale/lat no 3 t thi hert faile
For vertu vailes no 3 t alle /if thou abaied worthe
Emang the multitude of men/quare mane ere togidder
Bot ther aboute as thai ere blend/with bignes of wille 105
If thai be folke bot a fa /oft tydis tham the better
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Or eles wate thu no 3 t wele/the witles berne
How it is comouly carped/in contries aboute
That ane lepy leone /that over the land rynnys
Will make to fange to the fli 3 t/and flay many hertes 110
With that the segge all him selfe/silis to his chambre
And in the brasen bolle/fdlle blak water
He shapis him of shire wax/litille schipis many
And 3 apely 3 arkid in his hand /a 3 erd of a palme
Thenne conne he chater and enchant/ with alle his chefe m^tes 1 15
Avysid him in the vesselle/and was avaied sone
How the powere out of Persy /pellid doune his knytis
And how his land suld be lost/withoute lett mare
When he was ware of this wathe/how it worth sulde
Than wendis he wi 3 tly furth/and his wede changes 120
Ciede him alle as a clerke/and his croune shavys
And with a bytand blade /he his bered voydes
Then takes to him tresoure/and trusses in baggis
As many besandis on his bake /as he bere mi 3 t
And othire necessari notes /as nedis to his craftes 125
To sike Salmary Dangell/as him self reyses
He toke trammes him with /to tute in the sternes
Astralabus algate/as his arte walde
In a curious corven/all of quyte silvyr full quaynte
Mustours and mekil quat/mare then a littill J30
When he was grathed with his ge re /a gladen he waytes
And passis furthe at a posterne / privaly alane
Furthe on his fete withouten foie /he passis his w r ay
Unwetandly to any wee /that wont in his wanes
Thus airis he out of Egipte/and his erde levys 135
Fled for ferd of his fois/fer fra his kythis
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It was na bote him to bide/ne batille to 3elde
For alle his kyngdome he knew/suld be kast under
Fra the partis of Persy /he past bot a littill
And evyn so thurje Ethyope/and ther him eft clethis
All his liche in lyn clathe/for ledis suld trowe
And alle the puple persayve/a prophete he were
Then metes he furthe to Messadone/full unmete gattes
And quen he come to that kith /as the chance telles
Oft with his instrumentes out /he openly devynes
And nother hild he it ne hid /bot here qua sa likid
Bot than was methe for to mele/thurje men of his bur3
That he byhind him at hame/withoute hede levyd
Slik care kindils in his curte/quen thai thair kyng myssid
That it ware tere any tonge/of thair tene to rekyn
Princes of his palas/preses into chambre
To laite thair lord at was lost /with lates unblythe
Kairis in to closettes/knyjtes and erlis
Sekand thair soverayn/with many salt terys
Barons and bachelers/balefully gretes
S weirs swemyle/swouned ladys
And many was the bald berne/at banned ther quile
That ever he dured that day/undede opon erthe
Bot quen thai wist he was went /and wald nojt be fond
Couth thai na bote tham ebland/how best for to wirke
Bot silis to sir Sirraphis/at sittes in his trone
That was ther god althire graythist/one the ground samen
Him thai supplyed and so3t/and him ensence castes
Honoured him with offyrings/and elkendhim fayre
That he suld say tham the sothe/and sorely tham teche
Qyeder thaire kyng was becomene/at thair care kyndils
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Than sayd Syraphis him selfe/hc sayd tham thir wordis
Anec 30ur athill kyng/is out of his awyn land
For Artaxenses aje/is alle him ane foimdid
The proude kyng of Persee/that passes us agaynes 170
Full wele he wist or he went/quat suld worthe efter
And alle the fourme of the fare /that fall 30W behovys
For alle the erth of Egipt/fra ende unto othir
Bees conquirid and overcomyn/clene altogedre
The puple out of Perse /is purvaid all same 175
The kyng is comand fulle kene/with his kene ostes
That sail our renkes alle rayme/and our rewme bathe
And we be alle at thare wille/ thus is wirdis schapen
Sen it is sett to be soo/and slipe it ne may
Ne schewid to be na nothir schape/ne we to schount nouthire 180
Bot gefe thaim up the girdill/us gaynes no3t ellis
Bot seses serrisof your syte/and soru3es na mare
For certayn quod Syraphis /myselfe I it knawe
Jour king sail in a nothir kithe/kast out his elde
And come agayn eft 3onge man /3ft to his rewme 185
Than sail that victoure 30W venge / over your vile fais
And the province of Persee/ purely distruye
And gett agayn his awyn gronde/at he forgais nowe
And ane of the oddist emperours/of the werde worthe
When he this talis had tald/then tuke thai belyfe 190
And efter Anec onane/ane ymage gert make
The buke sais of blake stane/alle the bode ovyre
With corone and with conyschances/as it a kynge were
Quen it was perfite and pi3t/a place thai it waytede
And stallid him in a stoute stede/and sti3tled him faire 195
Lordis lift him over loft/and lawe to him bowid
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In reverence of the riche kyng/at had ther rewme gydid
Quen he was semely up set /with septoure in hand
Thene ledis at wur lettird/one lawe at his fottes
A lie the sawis of thair syre/as Siraphis tald 200
Thare gan thai graithly tham grave /in golden lettirs
Alle the wordis at he thaim werpid/of thair ware kynge
Thair thai wrate tham iwis/as the buke tellis
Supposand thaim in sum tyme/for sothe to be knawen
And men to make of thame mynd/ever mare efter 205
Be that thair enmes there erde/was entird with in
The power oute of Persee/with many proude ostes
Bot of ther bataile to brefe/it botis me na ferrire
For alle thai conquirid clene/this cithe at thaire wille
And Anec is alle his ane/ferre of his awyn landis 210
With in the merris of Messedoyne/ there na man him knewe
Bot will 3 e herken hende / now sail 3 e here
How hekide him in the courete/and quaynted him with lades
&mtnbu0 3Mcjranbri.
Syre it betid one a tyme/the text me recordis
That the mode kynge of Messedone / with mekill noumbre 215
That was sir Philip the fers/fame out of toune
For to fe 3 t with his fais/out of fere landis
Quen he was boune oute of buiye/and his bake turnid
As tite as Anec him amed/out of his awyn kythe
He paste up to the palais /and prevaly entirs 220
That he mi 3 t lend thare on loft /and luke on the qwene
Sone as him selfe was in the sale /and sa 3 e hir with e 3 e
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He beheld Olympadas/that honurable lady
Hir bewte bitis in his brest/and his bodi thrillis
And drifes throve his depe hert/as he ware dart-woundid 225
The lede lawid in hire lofe/as leme dose of gledis
Put up his hand to his hare /and lieldid it bot littille
Haile modi qwene of Messidoyne/he maister-like said
Thar deyned him na daynte/madame hir to call
Because he knew him a kyng/he carpid on this wyse 230
For if he come as a clerke/with a croune schavyn
And di 3 t as a doctour/in drabland wedis
3it all the erth of Egipt/had he bene aire ovire
Than answers him the qwene /with lull my Id speche
Haile maister quoth that myld/and made him to sytt 235
On a sege hir besyde/of silkyn clathis
And thar hir spakid with his speche/and spird of him wordis
Quen he was sete in his sete/that semely qwene
Ai of Egipt erd/enquirid if he were
Tho 3 t him like of that lede /be langage and othire 240
Forthi scho wetis if he wald/wete hire to say
A athel qwene quod Anec/ai be thou joyed
If thou a wirschipfull worde/has werpid and spoken
A riall roune thou me redis/a resone of blis
Quen thou mynnys of that marche/and with thi mouth tellis 245
For thare enhabetes in that erd/that thou are sayd
The wisest wees in this werd/the welken undire
For thai can swyth of a sewevyne/all the swepe telle
Whethir it be sele or soro 3 e/in a sete quile
And thai can certifi and se/by sygnes of the hevyne 250
Quat sail befall apon fold/withine a fewe 3 erys
Sum imderstandis in a stounde/the steven of the briddis
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To say the by their sapience /quat ther sange menys
Sum can thi consaile declare /thofe thou it carpid nevire
The poyntes of all thi privates /pertly can schewe
Sum can the brefe belife/the birth of thine childire
Be it hee be scho/haly thare werdes
And if I say it myselfe/slik sotellte I have
Sa clere a witt and sa clene/my Creatour I lofe
That all the notes at I nevyn/ nobly I cane
As any prophet aperte/to prove 30 w the sothe
Quen he thire sawis had sayd/he in his sege lened
In stody still as a stane/and starid in hire face
Beheld haterly that hend/that had his hert percid
With depe desire of delite/apon that dere waytes
Sone as hir selfe it sawe/at he hir sa behald
Then scho talkis him to /and titely him fraynes
Quare on muse 3e sa mekill/maister scho sayd
3 e behald me sa hogely/ quare on is 30m* mynd
My frely fode quoth the freke/no3t bot the werdes
Of my gracious goddis/the grettest on erde
Thai have tald me befor this tyme/that now I trew fynd
How I suld lange in a land /and loke one a qwen
Than out of his bosom he brayed /a blesand table
Of evoure and of othire thinges/odly fourmed
Of bras and of brynt gold /and o bri3t silvere
That thre serclis sere /in it selfe had
In the first compas I ken /as me the claus tellis
Stude the xij undirstandings/ stoutly engraven
In this othir dra3t ware devysid / a dusan of bestes
And semely sett was in the thrid/the son and the mone
Sethen he clekis out of a cas/ seven clere stemes
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To tell him tokens of the tymes/and talis of our werdes
And seven stele-gravyn stanys/and stoute othire tway
That wald for hurte or for harme/any hath ill kepe 285
Thus as he tuke furth his toylis/and his trammys schewes
If I sail lefe on thi lare/ quoth the leve qwene
Say me the day and the same 3ere/and the selfe tyme
Of the birth of the bald kyng/that I best lufe
Than answars Anec onane/sayd is ther 03t ellis 290
At 3e wald hend of me here /or at your he3t willis
For any cas that is to com /to knaw if the likis
I sail as namely 30W nevyne/as it war nowe done
Than will I quoth the wale qwene /3e wete me to say
Quat me and Philip /sail falle us betwene 295
For bowe he fra the bataille/bemys me tell
Then will he wed anothire wife /and wayfe me for ever
Nay no3t for ay quoth the freke/ther have thai fals spoken
Bot 3it I find for all his fare/fleme he salle the tothire
Never the latter or 03t lange/ salle lymp as thou sayd 300
And wild 30ur self to wille/nylle he so will he
Than was awondird of his wordes/the worthe lady
Beso3t sekirly this sire /if he safe vouchid
That scho my3t weterly wete /the wille of alle thingis
Quat kyn poynt or plyte/predestend hire were 305
AthiU qwene quoth Anec /as I am enfourmed
Ane of the grettist of oure godis/of grace and of mi3t
I fynd or it be fere to/fleschely the knaw
And efter in alle adversites/is amed the to help
Than sayd Olympadas/now honourable maister 310
I beseke the my sire /if thou me say walde
Quat kyn fygore on fold /or forme at he beris
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That demyd is or destaned/this dede for to worche
That will I wele quoth the wee /and nojt a word leje
This my3ty god at I me /is of a medille age
No3t of 30uth nor of eld /nor 3erris to many
Bot evyn so betwene twa/and to of nouthire
How he is merkid and made is mervuile to nevyn
With tachid in his for-toppe/twa tufe homes
A berd as a besom /with thyn bred haris
A mouthe as a mastif hunde/unmetely to shade
Bot dame if he be thus di3t/drede the never the more
Bot 3e be buxsom and bayite/and boune to his will
Be ny3ter-tale he salle the ne3e/this note to begyne
And 3e be merryd never the mare /bot mete him in sodeyn
Now certayne sir sayd the qwene/selly me thinke
Bot may se this be sothe/at 3e me say here
No3t as a prophet ne a prest/I prays salle thi selfe
Bot rehers the as hiere gode/and hie the for evire
With that rysis up the renke/and his rowme lefis
La3te leve at the qwene/for a litill quile
Gase him doune be the greces/agayne fra the sale
Furthe to make his maistryse/and mose in his arte
Thus passis he fra the place /to prove his sle3tis
Silis furth all him selfe /the cyte withouten
Drafe into a depe dissert/ and drewe up herbis
The chosest for inchantement/at he chese couthe
Quen he had gedird his grese/and grune thaim esundire
For japis of his gemetry/the jous out he wrengis
Erve tille exor3ise/and ethis ever elike
That it suld worthe as he wald/and ever na way faile
He datird one conjurisons/and calid to him devyls
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And alle the enchesone of his charme/with that the chese qwene
The same ny 3 te in hir slepe/suld se with hir ejen
Amone hir awyn god /in hire armes ligge 345
And dreme at he didd hir swa/and quen he done hadde
Than suld he say to hireselfe/ sadly thire wordis
Now has thou woman iwys/ within thi twa sydis
Consayved him at in all thi care /thi core salle defende
This ilke evyn overjede/and arly one the mome 350
As arly as the riche qwene/was resyn fra slepe
Then efter Anec one ane/scho al aboute sendis
Takes him betwene tham twa/tald him hir swevyn
3a quoth he comly qwene /I couthe and thou walde
Prevaly in thi palais /lat me a place have 355
Make the to se the same gode/and thi seife wakande
Face to face alle his forme /and his effecte clene
This grete god full of grace /sail glide to thi chambre
In a dredfulle devys/a dragons fourme
And than the figoxir of a freke/he sail take eftir 360
And prevaly in that part/apere 30 we beforne
Than answars him the swete quene/and sone him it grantes
Sir chese the a chambre /quare the chefe thinkes
Nowthire myne awen ne na nothire god /lat the nojt spare
Or any place at jow plece/my palas within 365
For may thou hald me this hest/as thou here tellis
And profe thus in my presens /as a propire sothe
Then salle I cherische the with chere/as thou my child were
Loute the lovely and love /alle my lyfe days
Graunt mercy quoth the grete clerke/to the gude lady 370
Thankes hire full thraly/and then forth wendis
To loke and layte him a loge/ quare he lenge my 3 te
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And buske him a bedsted/quare him best likid
Qwen it was metyn to the merke/that menn ware taryst
And folke was on thair firste slepe/and it was furth evyne
Than Anec one ane/his artis he fandis
And changid by enchantmentes / his chere all togedire
There worthid he by his wichecraft/into a wild dragone
And to the lade lere/he lendid in haste
Fl^and in his fethire-hames/and ferly fast sletes
And in a braide or he blan/he the bed entris
Quen he was laide belyfe/his liknes he changes
Worthis agayne to a wee /fra a worme turnys
Then kisses he kenely the quene/and clappis in armes
Langis sare to the layke/and on loft worthis
Quen he had wrojt all his will/hir wame then he touches
And with a renyst reryd/this reson he saide
This concepcion with kynges/sal be callid here eftere
A verra victor avanside/with alle the vayne werde
Thus begyled he this gude wyfe/and makes hire to wene
It war na gett of a gome/bot of god ane
Qwen the day raw-rase/he rysis belyfe
Lendis alande fra the loft /and left hir with child
Sone as hir bele gun bolne/alle hir blee changis
So was scho ferd and afrijt/a ferly ware ellis
To be bonden with barne/mekill bale to hire nejehis
For it and Philip hire fere/oferrom was sybb
Than Anec hir awyn clerke/scho on ane callis
Lo maister slike a myschefe/and maynely hire pleynes
I dred that I nere dee/bot 3e me deme sone
Quat me is beste of this case /if ever the kyng tume
Be nojt abayste quoth the berne/ne ableyd nothire
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Thar salle na chanche the chefe/the charge of a pese
For Amone our athill gode/ salle alleway the helpe
And kepe the full careles/if any cas fallis
Quat dose now this divinore/bot to desert wendis
Airis on alle him ane/out of the cite
Jede him furthe eftirsons/herbis to seche
Reft him up be the rotes /and radly tham stampis
The juse for his gremetry/that joglour takis
A sythen a brid of the see /him selvyn him fanges
Clatirs to hyre coynte thingis/kenely enchantes
And the wose of the wede/hire wengis anoyntes
And all this demerlayke he did/bot be the devylle craftes
How he my3t compas and kast/the kynge to begyle
He wro3te a wondirfulle wile /and will 3e now here
How he beglomrde this gome /and gilid him in sodeyn
This ilk Philip the fyrs/that in the fi3t lenges
The same ni3t in his slepe/he sa3e as him tho3t
Amon his awen god / in armes with his qwene
And make with hire market/ as a man were
And quen he wro3t had his will /then witrely him metes
That he bowes to hirbele chiste/and bigly it sewys
And sethen asselis it him selfe/semely and faire
With a rede golde rynge on this aray gravy n
A lyons hevyd was on loft /lovely corvyne
The bounde of a bri3t son /and a brande kene
And then he went furth his way/sayd Woman thou havys
Thi full defendour one fold /now frely consavyd
Als radly as the riche kyng/rase on the mome
Ri3t in the dawyng of day /a divinore he callis
And as him dremyd ilke a dele /that doctore he tellis
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And firaynes him fast on this fare /how it befalle snide
Phylip quoth the phylysofyr/thi fere is with childe
And with no gett of na gome /hot of god selfe 435
And gudman the gold rynge/the thre graven thynges
Thai ere thus mekill to mene/as me my mynd tellis
To the lyone hede quoth the lede/then liken I one first
The birth that scho bere salle/als best it besemys
That chefe salle to a chiftane/and slike a chefe maister 440
As to be halden hevyed-man/of alle the hale werde
Now salle I clerily declare /the course one the sonne
That sygnyfys the same mane /that sette is be wirde
So many provynce to pas/thurje prowis of armys
That he sail hit with his hede /in to the heghe est 445
So now of this bytand brand/beme will 3 e here
And alle is bot this hathill man/as I are sayd
That sail sa fele men afray/with fauchon in hande
And out of nombre to nevyn/of nacions wynn
Than foundis Philip to the fy 3 t/and the fild entres 450
And sone in delinges of dyntes/a dragone aperis
That 8 tre 3 t befor him in the stoure/ strikes doune his faas
And all his enemys in that erde/he endid in a stounde
When Phylyp with his fair folke/had the fild wonne
Than metis he him to Messadone/ther metis him the qwene 455
Kyssis comly hir king /and of his come joys
And how he fore scho him fraynes/ferly 3 eme
Wele graunt mercy quoth the kyng/my god I him love
Bot how that 3 e ga sa grete/gud dame he sayd
Thou has ragid quoth the renge/with unryd gestis 460
Now hafe I lede alle to lange/lengid fra hame
Thus to bre hire o bourde/he brevys thir wordis
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To quam has thou the tane tille / telle me the sothe
Outhir mete has mendid the full mekill/as may I nojt trowe
Or ane has stollen in my stede/sen I was stade thare
Thus bayst he the brijt qwene/that alle hir ble changid
To skyre skarlot hewe/skyftes hir face
Hir cher at was chalke quyte/as any chaffe worthis
So was scho schamed of the schont/that hir the schalk made
Nay quoth the comly kyng/ cache up thine hert
Thofe thou have forfet na force /so has fele othir
Thou has gilted bot nojt gretly/it grevys me the les
For god has geten the this gett/aganes thi will
All that was done the bedene/was me be dreme schewyd
I sa3e it surely as my selfe/slepe in my tentes
And owr god alltogedir/is ground of the cause
Of me worthis the the wite/ne of na wee ellis
Then tyd it Anec one a tym/a lytill terme eftir
This derkyng on a day /on his dese syttes
Had parreld him a proude feste/of princes and dukis
With maisterlingis of Messadone/and many othir nobles
Thus as he sat in his sete/ softly by his qwene
In schene schemerand schroude/all of schire stanes
He kest up his contenance/and kny3tly he lokes
And gladis gudly his gestis/as his degre walde
Thane Anec analey on ane /in althire maiste joy
Did on him his dragone-hame/and draffe thur3e the sale
With slike a rowste and rerid /the romance it wittnes
That nere had bemes for that bere/bene bro3t out of witt
He was sa hatter and sa hoge/quen he the hall entird
Lete sa lathely a late /and sa loude cried
That all the fest was aferd/and othire folke bathe
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To the chefe chaiar of the qwene/he chese him belyve
And laide as hendly as a hunde/his hede in hir arme
Sethin kyssis he hir clene mouthe/inclynes hir lawe 495
And braydis with a brym bre/out at the brade jates
Then sayd Philip to his fere /and alle his fre gestis
$one selfe dragon forsothe/I saje with myne e 3 en
Quen I was stad in the stoure/he strenthid alle myne oste
And there the floure in the filde/I fangid thur 3 e him selfe 500
Anothir ferly ther fell /within fewe days
The king was sett in his sale /with septer in hand
Then come ther in a litill brid/into his arme fleje
And ther hurkils and hydis/as sche were hand-tame
Fast scho flekirs about his fete /and flejtirs aboute 505
And ther it nestild in a noke/as it a nest were
Qwill scho had layd in his lappe/a litille tine egg
And than scho fangis hir flijt/and floje away swyth
This egg or the kyng wyst/to the erth fallis
Brak and so it wele burde/and brast all esoundir 510
Than wendis ther out a litill worme/and wald it eft enter
And or scho hit in hir hede /a hard deth suffirs
Than was sir Philip of that fare /ferly mekill sturbid
Callis to him a kid clerke/declaris to him this wonder
Besojt him quat it sygnified/to tell him the treuthe 515
That graunt I gudly quoth the gome /and thus gate he spekes
Sire there salle borne be a bame/of thi blithe lady
That dri 3 tyn eftir thi day /has destaned to regne
The quilke sail walke alle the werde / and wynne it himselfe
And hent salle a full hetire werth/or he may hame cover 520
Thus he undid him ilka a dele /and him the dome reched
Said it was sett to be so /he sa 3 e by his artes
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And if 30W like of this lare/to lesten any forthire
Sone sail I tell 30 w a text /how it betid efter
€erciu£ 3Uej:antJri.
Now it te 3 t the tyme/at travald that qwene 525
Quen scho suld bryng furth/hir birth to the werd
Scho bidis many hard brayde/baret endures
What of wandreth and wa/as wemen dose alle
Thik schouris hir thrat/tholid mekill soro 3 e
Many peralus pull/grete payne suffirs 530
Sa sare werkis hire the wame/and slik unwyn dreis
That all scho dredis hir dede/and doute for the werst
Than efter Anectanabus/scho on ane clepis
And he was boune at hire bode /and bowes to hire chamber
Gais him up at the gree/and gretes him faire 535
Fond hire sett in a sege/and soro 3 e ay elike
A Anec quoth the qwene /me ar 3 es of my selfe
I am alle in aunter/sa akis me the wame
Of werke well ne I wede/and slike wa tholis
That me ware derer to be dede/and dure thus on lyfe 540
3a Wynnes 30W up quoth the we /and walkis a littill
For the aire nowe and the elementes/ere evyn in this tyme
So travailid out of temperoure/and troubild of the sone
That makes thi grippis and thi gridis/a grete dele the kenere
Than faris scho up and farkis furth/a fute or tway 545
And sone sesis all hire syte/in a sete quyle
Now bod the doune quoth the beme/and scho his bone fillis
And syttand so in hir sege/was softly delyvered
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Bot now is mervaill/to me of this wondire
Quen this man fra his modire wombe/on the molde felle
For alle the erd evyn over/sa egirly schakis
That teldis templis and towns /tomble on hepis
The lijt lemand late/laschis fra the hevyn
Thonere thrastis ware thra/thristed the welkyn
Cloudis clenely to-clefe / clatird unfaire
All blakeind aboute/and boris the sonne
Wild wedirs up werpe/and the wynd ryse
And all flames the flode/as it fire were
Nowe bri3t no we blaa/nowe one blase efter
And than overqwelmys in a qwirr/and qwater ever elike
Than slike a drekness ther drafe/and demyd the skewys
As blesenand as bale fyre/and blake as the helle
That that was never bot as ny3t/fra the none tyme
Till it to mydday was meten/one the mome efter
Gife this ware mervale to myn/3et emange othir
Then rekils it unruydly/and raynes doune stanes
Fell fra the firmament /as a hand lyftynge
And some as hoge as thi hede/fra the hevyn falles
Sa ferd was Philip of that fare /that his flesche trymblid
For sere sygnes at he sa3e/as selly ware ellis
As wyde as alle the werd was thwye/warnyng thai hadd
That houre that Olympadas / was of hire sonne li3ter
Than lendis him up the leve kyng/his lady to vysite
Quoth the man to his make / 1 am in many tho3tis
That this frute sail have na fostring/ne be fed nouthire
I ges it be no3t of my gett/bot of god fourmed
Be many cause at I kenne/I kan no3t supose
It be consayved of my kynde/ne come of myselfe
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I sa3e so in the same tyme/he sevyrd fra thi wambe
The erd and alle the elementes/so egirly schouted
And quether 3it for any quat/a quyle latt him kepe
And norish him as namely /as he myne awyn warre
Jit wille thare make of him mynde/and myn it here eftire
Hathils swilke a haly sonn/I hade in my tyme
Another barne quoth the beme/I of my blode have
Ane of my sede I supose/and sibbire of the twa
That I wan on myne othir wyfe/that I wede first
Lat him as ayre quen I am erthed/enherit my landis
And stall we him in stede of this /to sti3tell my rewme
For he is borne of my blode /and a bore nerre
And fede we this othire that folke/quen we ere fay worthide
May sitt and carpe slike a knave /thaire last kyng hade
Thai did all as he demed/and his domes plesed
Chrest thai this 3onge child /and chosely him kepid
Thai ware as besy him aboute/birdis and ladis
As he had bene their hi3e god /for sa thai hopid alle
This barne quen he borne was /as me the boke tellis
Mi3t wele aprefe for his aport/to any prince oute
Bot of the lyfe that he li3t off/ he like was to nane
Nouther of fetoure ne of face /to fadir ne to modyr
The fax on his faire hed/was ferly to schawe
Large lyons lockis/that lange ere and scharpe
With grete glesenand e3en/grymly he lokes
That ware as blyckenand bri3t/as blesand sternes
Jit ware thai sette unsamen / of serelypy hewys
The tane to brene at a blische/as blake as a cole
As any 3are 3eten gold/3elow was the tothire
And he walde e3ed was /as the writt schewys
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lit it tellis me this tale /the tethe in his hede
Was as bitand breme/as any bare tuskis 610
His stevyn stiffe was steryn/that stonayd many
And as a lyon he lete/quen he loude romys
His felle fygoure and his fourme/ fully betakend
The prowis and the grete pryse/that he aprevyd eflire
His hardy nes his hyndelaike/and his hetter my 3 tes 615
The wirschip that he wan/quen he wex eldire
Than sembled his syb menne/be sent of thame alle
To consaile of this kyng son /how thai him call suld
And so him nevyned was the name /of his next frendis
Alexsandire the athill/be allirs acorde 620
Than was he lede furthe belyfe/to lere at the scole
As sone as to that sapience /himself was of elde
Onane unto Arystotill / that was his awen maister
And one of the coronest clerkes/that ever knew letter
Than was he brojt to a benke/a boke in his hand 625
And faste by his enfourme/was fettild his place
For it come no 3 t a kyng son / 3 e knaw wele to sytt
Doune in margone and molle/emange othir shrewis
Sone wax he witter and wyse/and wonder wele leres
Sped him in a schort space /to spell and to rede 630
And sethen to gramer he gase/as the gyse wald
And that has he alle hale /in a hand quyle
In foure or in fyfe 3 ere/he ferre was in lare
Than othir at had bene thare/sevynte wynter
That he suld passe him in that plite/unpussible semed 635
Bot at god will at gaa furth/qua may agayn stande
In absens of Arystotill/if any of his feris
Raged with him unridly/or rofe him with harme
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Him wald he kenely on the croune/knok with his tablis
That alto brest wald the bordis/and the blode folowe 640
If any scolere in the scole/his skorne at him makis
He skapis him fulle skathely/bot if he skyppe better
Thus with his feris he fajt/as I fynd wretene
As wele in letter and in lare/as any laike ellis
Thus skillfulle lange he scolaid/and the scole used 645
Till he was evyn of elde/ellevyn wynter
He had na pere in na place /that proved so his tyme
For the principalte of all the pake/he of aprefe wynnys
And qwen it tejt to the tyme /of ten 3 ere of age
Then was him kend of the kynde/and craft of bataile 650
Wele and wijtly in were /to welden a spere
A preke one a proude stede/ proudly enarmed
That lare was him lefe to /and lerid in a qwile
Was there na lede to him like/within a fewe 3 eris
So chevalres a cheftan/he chevys in a stonde ► 655
That in aunters of armes/all men he passes
Quen Philip see him sa fers/in his first elde
His hert and his hardyness/h^ely he lofed
Comendid mekill his kny 3 thede / and him callid one a day
Betwene tham selfe one a tyme /and talkis thir wordis 660
Alexander quoth the kyng/I angirly prayse
Thi wirschip thi worthines / thi wit and thi strenth
Es nane so teche of thi tyme /to tryi now o lyfe
How suld I lede for thi lofe/bot lufe the in hert
Bot I am sary for sothe/my sonne at thi fourme 665
Is lickened one na lymme / ne like to my selfe
Oft storbis me thi statore/and stingis me 3 erne
That thi personale proporcion/sa party is to myne
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This herd hire the hend quene/and lieterly scho dredis
Sent efter Anec/and askis him belyve
Beknew him clene all the case/how the kyng sayd
And frayns him fast quat the freke/of hir fare thingis
Then con he calke and aconte/and kest on his fyngirs
Lokis him up to the lifte/and the lady swares
Be nojt afrijt quoth the freke/ne afrayd nouthir
It sail the noy no3t a neg/nane of his tho3tes
With that he hevys up [his] hede/and to the hevyn lokis
Hedis heterly on hi3e/behelde on a steme
Of the quilke he hoped in his hert/sumquat to knawe
Quat evir he wald wete/of his will alltogedire
Quoth Alexander to this athill/as he his arte fandis
Quat is the planet or the poynt/3e purpose to seme
Quat steme is at 3e stody one/quare stekis it in hevyne
May 3e 03t me in any maner / to that steme schewe
That can I wele quoth the clerke/ellis couthe I littill
No3t bot sewe me sone/quen the son is to reste
Quen it drevyn to the derke/and the day fynyst
And thou sail sothely se/the same with thine e3en
Is 03t thi werid to the wissed/ quoth the wee than
For that I covet to ken /if thou me kythe wald
Sir sothely of myn awene son/slayne mone I worth
So was me destaned to dye/gane many winter
As tyte as Anec/this aunter had tald
Then treyned doune fra the toure/to tute in the stemes
Than airis sir Alexander /efter his fadir
That ever he kyndild of his kynde/kend he bot litille
Thus led he furthe his leve childe/late on ane evene
Sylis softely him selfe/the cite withouten
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Bojes him up to a breke/as the buke tellis
To the hi3t of the depe dike /and to the hevyn waytes 700
Alexander athil sonne /quoth Anec his syre
Loo jondir behald over thi hede/and se my hatter werdis
The evylle sterne of Ercules/how egirly it sondes
And how the mode Marcure/makis sa mekill joy
Loo jondir the gentill Jubiter/how jolyle he schynes 705
The domes of my destany/drawis to me swythe
Thik and thrathly am I thret/and thole mone I sone
The slajter of myne awen son /as me was sett ever
Unethis werped he that worde/the writt me recordis
Thanne Alexander as sone /was at him behind 710
And on the bake with slike a bire/he bare with his handis
That doune he drafe to the depest /of the dike bothom
Sayd lo unhappeiste undire hevyn /that thus on hand takis
As be the welken to wete/quat suld come efter
Thou has feyned the for wyse/and fals all to gedir 715
Wele semys slike a sacthell/to sye3e thus of lyfe
Than Anec as him a3t/wele angirly granys
Dryves up a dede voyce/and dymly he spekis
Wele was this cas to me knawen /and kyd many wynter
I suld dee slike a dethe/be dome of my werdis 720
Sayd I the no3t so /my selfe here before
I suld be slayn of my son /as now sothe worthis
Thof I this wirschip the wayfe/as wald thine astate
Lat thou thi hert never the h^er/hale into pride
For it was wont quoth the wee/as wyse men tellis 725
Full hi3e thingis overheldis/to held other quile
Slike as ere now brot abofe/nowe the bothum askis
And slike as list ere on lawe/ere lift to the stemes
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Sa ma aydens quoth that othire man /thou tellis me treuthe
Son this ensample of thiselfe/thou sais me I trowe 730
Unbehalde the wele one ilk halfe/and have a gud e 3 e
Les on thine ane here efterward/ thine ossynges ]i}t
Than Alejander alle in ire/angrile spekis
Hy the hethenward thou hathill/and hove thou na langir
For nathing as anente me/thou has nojt to mell 735
Ne with thi domes me to dele /dole undire sonne
Nowe is sir Nicollas anoyed/and nettild with ire
As wrath as waspe/and wode of his mynde
Reviles he this othir renke/with unrid speche
Behald quoth he hedirward/and herken how I say 740
Now be the hert and the hele/of my hathill fadire
And be the God quoth the gome /that gafe me the saule
Asprent my spittyng/a speeke one thi chere
Thou sail be dijt to the deth/and drepid of my handis
Quen he had spoken so for spyte/he spittes in his face 745
Dispises him despetously/dispersons him foule
Hent the thare quoth the hatill/as the to harme semes
Cure for thi kene carpe/chache nowe a schame
Than went him furthe Alexander /and his ande takis
Lete aswage or he sware/the swelme of his angirs 750
Bese 3 is him how he say wold /or he his sa 3 e 3 eld
And tumes him then to the tulke/and talkis thire wordis
For thou has no 3 ted me now/ Nicollas he sayd
I swere the be my syre saule /and by his selfe pite
And be the worthe wombe/of my wale modre 755
That I was geten in of gode/and graithely consayved
Thou seis me lede or 03 t lange/in thi lande armed
And othire recovyre me thi rewme/or reche up the girdille
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Than set thai tham slike a day /to semble and to £}t
And therto tuke up thair trouthis/and twyned esoundre 760
Then 3 ode him furthe the 3 ong manne/ 3 apeli and s wythe
Into the marche of Messedone/and manly asemblis
Of saudiours and sekir men /a somme out of nombre
That was the baldest and the best/breveyd in armes
He perrails him a proude ost/of princes and othire 765
Farkes to sir Philip /and fangis his leve
And than Bocifilas his blonke/he bremely ascendis
And bounes on with his bataill/out at the brade 3 ates
The same day at was sett /the sembling of bathe
Aithire with a firs flote/in the fild metis 770
The nounbre of sir Nicollas/it noyes me to reken
And Alexander was ane oste/of angird many
With that thai tuke up thaire trompes/apone the twa sidis
Braidis banars abraide/buskis to mete
So kinlid the clarons/that alle the cliffe rynges 775
The holtes and the haire heer/and the hillis schevyr
Ilk a hathill to hors/hi 3 is him belyve
Stridis into stele-bowe/sterts apon loft
Has a helme one his hede/and honge over his swyre
A schene schendirhand schild/and a schafit hentis 780
Quat of stamping of stedis/and stering of bemes
Alle dymed the dale /and the dust ryses
With slik a bront and a brusche/the bataille asembild
As the erth and alle the elmentes/at anes had wrestild
Now aithir stoure on ther stedis/strikis togedir 785
Spumes out spakly/with speris in hand
Breks into blasons/bordren shildis
Beris into bri 3 t stele / bitan d lances
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Sone in scheverand schidis/schaftis ere brosten
Alto sprynges in sprotes/speris of syris 790
Dryfuys doune duchepers/and doykes of thair horses
Fellis fay to the fold /many fresch knyjtes
Quat dose now this Nichollas / bot nymes him a spere
Kest him on this 3 ong kny 3 t/to covire him a name
And Alexander with anothire/airis him agajme 795
Girdis grymly togedire/grevosly metes
Sa sare was the semble/thire seggis betwene
That alto wraiste thai thair wode/and werpis in sondire
Alto clatirs into cavels / clene to thair handis
There left nouthire in their hand /the lengthe of an ellyne 800
Then lilted thai na langer/bot laschid out swerdis
Aithire a blesynand brand /brait out of schethe
Hewis on hatterly/had thurgh mailes
Many starand stanes/ strikes of thair helmes
Then Alexander in ane ire /his arme up liftes 805
Swythe swyngis out his swerde / and his swayfe feches
The nolle of Nicollas the kyng/he fra the nebb partis
That doun he felle fra his foie /and fynyst for evir
Thus was him destand that day /as dr^ten had shapide
So hent him the h^ere hande/of his athille fais 810
Thair slike wirship he waan/ware wondir to telle
Had of that hi 3 e kyng/the hede fra the shuldirs
Then was him geven up the 3 erde/and 3 elden the rewme
And alle at left was o lyfe/lordis and othire
Come to that conquerore/and on knese fallis 815
And in his mercy and meth/mekely thaim put
This ronke and his rounsy/thai reche up a croune
As gome at has the garland /and all the gre wonne
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Thus with the floure in the fild/he fangid his enmy
And haldis one with hale here/hame to his fadire 820
Than fyndis he Philip on his flett/with a fest huge
Had wed him another wyfe/and wayfid his quene
Ane Cleopatras he caled/a grete kynges dojter
And had Olympadas/and openly forsakene
Fadir quoth this fell kny 3 t/quen he this fest entirs 825
The palme here of my first price /I pray the resayfe
Forthe to the weding or I winde/of my wale modire
And kaire me to anothire kynge/to couple hire to wyfe
For the to felsen ne to foloje/fallis me na mare
Ne here to duell with thi douce /deynes me na langer 830
Now thou mas the slike a mangery/and macchis changes
And I to consaile uncallid/I can no 3 t there on
With that there crapis to the kyng/a kny 3 t at the table
Ane Lesias a lede/and on loude speches
Cleopatras a knafe child/ consayve sail and bere 835
That demed is efter thi deth/duly to regne
Than Alexander at this kny 3 t/angirs unfaire
Wynnes him up a wardrer/he wait in his handis
So hard him hittes on the hede/his hemes out weltis
And sa he lost has the lyfe/for his lether wordis 840
Than was the wale kyng wrath /as wondir ware ellis
Braydis him up fra the borde/and a brand clekis
Airid toward Alexander /and ames him to strike
Bot than him failis the feete/or he firste wenys
He stakirs he stumbils/and stande he ne mi 3 t 845
Bot ay fundirs and failis /as he ferde ware
The faster forward him he faris/the faster he snapirs
Quat was the cause of the case /that knawes oure Lorde
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Quat now quoth athill Alexander /quat ailis the to falle
Has thou na force in thi fete/ne fele of thi selfe
For a freke to be ferd/or afraid outhire
And thou the govemer of Grece/that ware grete wondire
Then sittis he doune in that tene/the tablis ilk ane
Out of the halle be [her] hare/halis he the bride
And so the wee in his wreth/wrekis his modire
And Philip fain sare seke/and alle the fest strubled
As sone as Alexander /of angir he slakis
He lendis o loft to the lede/a litille days eftire
Cairis up with comfurth/the kyng for to vysite
He comes to the curten/and carpis this wordis
Philip quoth this ilke freke /and forwort him standis
Thof it unsemely me sytt/the so for to calle
Nojt as thi suget and thi son /my sawe I the 3elde
Bot as a felawe or a frynde/fallis to anothire
Sire latt thi wreth awai wende/and with thi wyfe sajtill
And the los of Lesias/ litille thou charge
I did bot my devir/to drepe him me thinke
For it awe him nojt sa openly /slike ossing to make
And sir un worth ely thou wro3t/and that thou wele knawis
Quen thou was boune with a brand /my bodi to schende
Then rewis the riche kyng /of unride werkis
Blischis up to the beme/and braste out at grete
Then airis him one Alexander /to his awen modir
Bees not aglopened madame/ne greved at my fadire
If all 3e synned him besyde/as youre selfe knawis
Thereof na we may wite/it was godis will
With that he fengis hire furthe/to Philip hire ledis
And he comly hire kist/and cordis with hire faire
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Anes with Olympadas/and the tothire woydis
And lofes hire lely/to his lyfes ende. 880
<&uintu0 3Ulejcanbri.
Sone efter in a seson/as the buke sais
Come drivand fra Darius /the deyne empereure
Heraudes on he 3 e hors/hendly arayed
To sir Philip the fers/to feche their trouage
Litille kyngis there come/as the clause tellis 885
Li 3 t doune at the loge/ and their blonkis leves
Caires in to the curte/to crave him thair dettes
Touchis tidy thair tale /and tribute him askis
3a caires hame quoth Alexander /agayne to 30 ur kithes
And sais 30 ur maister he make/na ma sandis 890
For sen Philip had a fresch sonn/that fast now encressis
That bees no 3 t suffird I supose/nane slike him to 3 elde
For sais 30 ure lord the lefe henne/that laide hir first egg
Hire bodie no we with baraute/is barely consumede
And is Darius so of his dett/duly depryved 895
And be this titill him tellis /na tribute him fallis
Then mervalid tham the messangirs/mekill of his speche
His witt and his wisdome/wonderly praysed
Faire at sir Philip the fers/fangen thai ther leve
And syne clene of alle the curte/and caris to ther landis 900
To the palais of the proude kyng/to Persie thai went
Dose tham in to Darius /ther he one dese syttes
And telles him how his trouage /is tynt altogedire
As Alexander awyne mouth / had thame alle enfourmed
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Then messangirs to Messedoyne/come in the mean qwile 905
To Philip the felle kyng/and fireschly him talde
That alle the erthe of Ermony levies and princes
That sule be suget to himselfe/wale seke him with armes
And Alexander belyfe/as athil man suld
Undirfengid to fe 3 t/for Philip to wende 910
Gedirs him a grete ost/graithes him in plates
And aires toward Ermony /that erde to distroy
Than was a man in Messadone/in the marche duellid
A proved prince and a proude/Pausanna was hattene
A big beme and a bald /in brenys to ryde 915
The sone of ane Cerastis/as the buke witnes
This freke alle his franche/of Philip he haldis
And was a suget to himselfe/and serves him ajt
Bot thanne he depely many day /desired to have the quene
And lyes umlapped with hir lufe/many lange wynter 920
And by that cause to the kyng/he kest slik a hate
That he desiris his dethe/and d^tes tharefore
Alle the folke of his affinite/he freschly asemblis
And sekis forth with a hoge some/asaile him to 3 elde
Quen Philip heris of that fare/gret ferly him thinke 925
Ferkis furth with a fewe folk /him in the fild metes
Seis the multitude sa mekill / of men at he bringes
Braidis on his blonke toward the bur 3 e/and thaim the bak shewis
Then schrikis schilli alle the schalkis/and schoutes him at anes
And Pausanna the prince /apon a proude stede 930
Sprengis out with a spere/and spedes him efter
And thurgh the bac in to the brest/him beris to the erd
All ware he wondirly wondid/he wendis no 3 t belife
His men and all the Messadones/full maynly ware stourbed
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Quat of doloure and dyn/quen thai him dede hopid 935
Pausanna than for the prowis/slike a pride hentes
Unethes wist he for welthe/wirke quat he mijt
He prekis into the palais /to pull out the quene
Wenys to wild hire at wille/and away lede
Than comes Alexander in that cas/the crona[c]lis tellis 940
With a riall ost/of many able princes
Airand out of Ermony /and had alle the erth wonne
Sees slike a rottillynge in the rewme/and ridis al the faster
Than past up the proude quene /into preve chambre
Waynes out at wyndow/and waytes aboute 945
Saje be the sygnes and be sike/as with hire sonne comys
And be the alyens armes/at he was alle maister
With that scho haldes out hire hede/and heje to him callis
Quare is thi werdes my wale sone/thou wanne of thi godis
Thou suld be victore and venge/and vencuste nevire 950
If thou have any hert here /help now thi modir
Sone as Pausanna the prince /within the palis heris
The comyng of the kene knyjt/he caires him agaynes
Presis out of the palais /with a pake armede
And metes him in the mydfild/with a mekill noimbre 955
And Alexander belyve/quen he on him waites
He swynges out with a swerd/and swappis him to dethe
And the renkes alle the route /reches up thaire wepene
Unto this kid conquiroure/and cried efter socure
Than was ther ane in the ost/one Alexander callis 960
Sayd Philip thi fadir/is in the fild drepide
And he halis furth on hede/and halfe dede him fynds
Brusches doune by the beme/and bitterly wepis
A Alexander quoth the kyng/now am I at ane ende
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A litille liffcis up his liddis/and lokis in his face
Bot jit it gladis me quoth the gome /to ga thus to deth
To see my slaar in my sijt/be sa sone jolden
A wele be the my wale son /and wagede with his hede
Thou has baldly on my bane /and bremely me vengide
With that he blothirs in the breste/and the breth stoppis
And in a spedfulle space / so the sprete jeldis
And Alexander ay onane/angirly he wepis
And gretes for him as grevously/as he him geten hade
With barons and bachelers/hira brojt to the cite
And erdis him in his awen erd/as emperoure fallis
The day efter his deth/drerely him wendis
Alexander his aire/and syttes in his trone
A clene croune on his hede/clustird with gemmes
To se how him seme wald/the sete of his fadire
He seis doune in the sete /with septer in hande
Makes a crie that alle the curte/knijtes and erles
Suld put thaim into presens /his precep to here
And alle comyn at a kali /and on kneis heldis
Than blisches he to his baronage /and breves thir wordis
Lo maistirs of Messedone/sa mijty men and noble
3 e Traces and of Tessaloyne/and 3e the trewe Grekis
How likis 30 w nowe 30ur lege lord /lokis on my forme
And letis alle ferdschip atflee/and fange up 30m* hertes
And aires for nane alyens/quils Alexander lastes
For with the graunt of my god /I gesse or I dye
That alle the barbare blode/sall bowe to my selfe
Thaire is na regione ne rewme/ne renks undire heven
Ne nouthire quare na nacion/bot it sail my name loute
For we of Grece sail have the gree/with grace ay to wild
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And anely be over the werd /honoured and praysed
And quilk of alle myne athille men /that any armes wantes
Lat pas into my palais /and plates him delyvire
And he at of his awen has/hamas him swythe
And make him boune ilia beme/to bataill to ride
Thanne answard him with voice /alle his proud princes
And erles in his empire /that ware in eld striken
Hathils of hije age/auncient knijtis
Barons and bachelers/and brysside ware in armes
Sir we hafe fame to the fijt/and bene in fild preved
With sir Philip 3our fadire/mony fele wyntere
And now us failis alle our force / and oure flesch waykis
For be the floure never sa fresche/it fedis at the last
Sire all the 3eris of oure 30uthe/es 3are syne passide
And we fortravailed and terid/that now oure topp haris
A 1 to hevy to be hildid/in any here wedis
Or any angwische of armes /any mare suffire
Forthi lord with 30ure leve/we lawe 30U besechis
We may no3t stande now in stede/oure strenthe is febille
Wale 30W othir werriouris/that wi3t ere and 3ongere
Slike as ere stife in a stoure/strakis to thole
Nay be my croune quoth the king /my covatynge is eldere
The sadnes of slike men /than swyftnes of childere
For bames in ther bignes/it baldis thame mekill
Oft with improvedness in presse/to pas out of lyfe
Forthi overset of aide men /I anely me chese
Be connynge and be consaile/thai kyth ai ther werkis
The sle3t of ther sapience /thai selcuthely prayse
And clene acordis to his carpe/kni3tes and othire
Then dose him furthe this dere kyng/a litille dais efter
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Alexander with ane ost/of many athille dukis
Samed a unsene somme /to saile he begynnes
Over into Ytale/tha yles to distruye
Into the coste of Calodone/he comes him over first
And ther a cite he asailes/and in sege lengis
Bot wees wijtly within /the walles ascendide
Freschely fendid of/ and fersly withstude
3e Calodoyns quoth the kyng/he callis fra withoute
Outhire macches 30 W maynely therto/or mainely dies
And fijtes fast with 30 ur fais/to 3 e fey worthe
Or 3 efes 3 arely up the 3 erde/and 3 eld me the cite
So chaunses it this chiftan / or he acheved thine
That fele he breves of tha bemes/and the bur 3 e Wynnes
And caires so out of Calodone/quen he it coverid hade
Over the ythes into Italee/and that ile entirs
Thenne ware the rede/alle redd of his come
Prays him alle of the pees /and presandes him faire
Sexti thousand thai hime send /of sekire besandes
Of clere gold of thaire kist/and coruns a hundrethe
Thare tuke he tribute that tyme/the titill recordis
Out evyne into the Qccident/of alle at thare duellid
Of qwilke the erde and the erthe/ Europe was callide
And ames than to Affrike/and alle at esse leves
Than ra 3 t he fra tha regions /and remowed his ost
Cachis into anothire kythe/and crossis over the stremes
Aires into Affiike/with many athille prince
Anothire wing of the werd/and Wynnes it belyfe
That syde sodanly and sone/that sir he Athenes
For ther he funde bot fewe/that felly withstude
Na ridars in tha regions /ne rebelle bot littill
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He laches it the lijtlyere/as was the les wondir 1055
Than kaires he fra the contres/and kerve over the stremes
Furthe to Frantites he ferd/slike a ferre ile
Seches ther to a synagoge/himselfe and his princes
Amon ther awen god /at thai honoure my 3 t
And so to the temple as he tijt/with his tid erles 1060
Than metis him myddis the way /was mervale to sene
A hert with a huge hede/the hareest one erthe
Was to behald as a harow/forhelid over the tyndis
And thane comande him the kyng/kenely to schote
Bot ther was na man so nemylle/that him hit couthe 1065
A hilla haile quoth Alexander /and him a narawe hent
Droje and at the first dra 3 te/him drepid for evir
Fra thethen to this ilk day /than is that ilke place
The stede ther this stith mane /strikes this hert
Sagittarius forsoth/men gafe it to name 1070
And wille do for that ilk werk/ay qwen the werd tumes
Then aires him one sir Alexander /tille Amone temple
Offirs to his awen gode/and honours him faire
Gevys him garsons of gold /and of gud stanes
And hald hestes him to hete/him hetterly besekis 1075
Than passes he thethen with his princes /to sich a place wends
Capho Resey we rede /the romaunce it callis
And therin fyndes him the freke/fyftene burghes
And glidane to the grete see/xij grymme waters
Of ilka bilde sais the buke/ barred was the 3 ates 1080
Stoken stifly without /with staplis and cheynes
Thare lengis him lefe the kynge/and logis alle a neven
And sacrifice ther eftsones/to many sere godis
The same ni 3 t in his slepe/Seraphis aperis
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Anothir of his grete godis/in a grym fonrme 1085
Cled in a comly clathe/of castans hewes
And silis evyn to himselfe/and said him ther wordis
Alexander athill kyng/and asperly spekis
Toward a mijti montayne/him myntes with his fynger
May thou 03 t lede the 3 onder lawe/lyft one thi schulder 1090
And stere it oute of the stede/and stable in a nothir
Nay qua mi 3 t that quoth the manne/for mede undire heven
Sir as 3 one 3 ondire hi 3 e hille/sall ay hald his place
So sail thi name fra now furthe/be mynned in mynde
And ay to the day of dome /thi dedes be remembride 1095
Than Alexander belyve/him askis a demaunde
I beseche the now Syraphas/if thou me say walde
For any hathille undir heven
The prophecy or thou pas /of alle my playn werdis
How me is destayned to dye/and quen my day fallis 1100
Sir certayne quoth Seraphis/as to myselfe thinkes
For any hathill under hevene/I hald for the better
Withouten wa to no 3 t atwete/the wathe of his ende
Then know the cas or it come /and aye in care lenge
Bot nevertheles I sail the neven/sen thou me now prays 1105
Thou sail be drechid of a drinke/a dra 3 te of unsele
And alle thi 3 eris ere 3 eten 3 are/and thi 3 outhe fenyse
Lange or thou have meten the merke/of thi mydill age
Bot quen ne in quat time /sal qwaite the this aunter
Enquire me no 3 t that question /for I queth the it never 1110
For outhire out of the orient /salle openly here efter
Undo the dre 3 t of thi days /and thi ded tell
Than waynest him this vayne god /and voidis fra the chambre
The modi kyng on the morne/alle monand he ryses
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The mast parti of his princes /and of his proud ost 1115
Hastis thame in to Ascoiloym/and ther thaihim bydis
Than callis he to him carpentaris/and comandes thair swythe
In mynde and in memory of him /to make a cite
And nevenes it his awen name /that never syne changide
Bot Alexsander ay forth /eftir himselven callid 1120
£ejttit£ $a$£u£ SUtejcanbri.
Now airis he furthe with his ost/to Egist he thinkes
And clene alle the contre/quen thai his come herd
As he had bene a hije gode/thai 3 ode him agayn
Resaved him with reverence /and to ther rewme lede
There entirs him that emperoure/and in that erde findis 1125
Of Anec his awen sire/ane ymage of sable
A beme was of blake stane/alle the body hewen
With conyschance of a kynge/with corone and septere
Than askis of tham Alexander /as he theron lokes
Quat maner of man apon molde/it was made efter 1130
Sire Anectabus/ quoth alle with a steven
That alle the erthe of Egipte/everid umquile
With that the flamande flode/felle in his e 3 ene
That Anec quoth this athil kyng/was myne awen fadir
Than fallis he flat on the folde/and the fete kyssis 1 135
On the stane quare it stode/ stilly he moumes
Syne into Sirie with his seggis/he so 3 t at the gayneste
And thai as baratours bald /hem bigiy withstandis
Set on him sadly /and slo 3 e of his kni 3 ts
Bot 3 et 3 arely are he 3 ode/thai 3 ald him the regne 1140
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Than drafe he sa to Damac/with dukis and princes
And sone he sesyd alle that syde/and Sydoyne he takis
And then trussis him to Tyre /and thare his tentes settes
Besyde the cite with a some /and in a sege lengys
Thare he lies with his ledis/lang or he foundes
Before the burje with his bemes/and mekille bale suffirs
Quat of ane quat of othir ost/his oste pleynes
For wele wist thai thame nane/to wyne to the cite
It was sa stiffe and sa strange /and stalwortlily wallid
And thai so hedously hije/it was a huge wondir
Tildid fulle of turestes/and toures of defence
Batailid and bretagid/aboute as a castelle
The wawis of the wild see/apone the wallis betes
The pure populande hurle/passis it umby
It was enforced with sa fele/fludis and othire
It semed never sege undir son /be saute it to Wynne
Than etils him sir Alexander /and belyve raakis
Beside the cite in the see /to sette up a loge
A hi3e tilde as a toure/teldid one schippis
That mijt na nave for that note/neje to the cite
Quen he this baistell had bild/up to the burje wallis
And tijt him as tyme was /the toune to assaille
Slik mischife in the mene quile/emang his men fallis
For megire and for meteles/ware marvaile to here
Ther was princes in poynt/to perish for evire
Alle in doute to be dede/ dukis and erlis
In fere to be famyschist/many ferse knijtes
For ther is na wa in the werd/to the wode hunger
Than pleyins him the proud kyng/the pete of his men
And sendis out his sandismen/with selid letters
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To Jerusalem to Jandis/at the Jewes teches
That was the bischope that burje/brevyd in tha dais
Him moneste as a maister/him maynly to sende
Fresch folke for the fijt/and fode for his oste
And all the trouage thare to him/tittly to wayne 1 175
That he Darius of dewe/was dangirde to paye
And jit comande he this clerke/the kyng in his writtes
For many richas him redis/rathere to thole
The mayntenance of the Messedoyns/and of the men Grekis
Thane thaiem of Persy to pay /or to plese au there 1180
Thane takis the bischop the breve /and bujes to a chambre
Resayved it with reverance /and redis it ovir
Gase him doun be begrece/agayne to the sale
Swiftly to the swiars/and tham his sware jeldis
Sirs airis agayn to Alexander /and all thous him tellis 1185
That me was done many day/depely to swere
Never Persy to poure/to pas with myne armes
In damaging of Darius /durande his lyfe
Sone as the wale kyng wist /he writhis him unfaire
Now be that god quoth the gome /that gatt me on erthe 1190
I sail anes on the Jewis/enjoyne or I die
Salle ken tham quas comandment/to kepe at tham falle
Yit for na torfer him tid/Tyre wolde he nojt leve
Bot chese him out a chiftane/and charge him belyve
A mody man sir Meliager/a maister of his oste 1195
To fande him furth with a flote/of five hundrethe knyjtes
And joynes him to Josaphat/his joumay to take
And alle the pastours and the playnes/prestly to drive
And bring in all the bestaille/barayne and othire
That he mijt se on any syde/the cite of Gadirs 1200
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Than movys he on sir Meliager/this mijtifiille prince
With a soume of sekir men /and Sampson thame ledis
A renke at in tha regions /had redyn oft sythis
And knew the costis and the kitthis/clene alle togedire
Thus 3 ede thai furthe egirly/and entirs the vaile 1205
And slike a prai tham aproved/as pyne were to rekene
Brynges furthe sayd the boke/bestes out of nounbre
And trottes on toward Tyre /with taite at thaire hertes
Bot or thai meten ware a myle/the meris withouten
Ther metes thaim with a mekille flote/the maister of the playnes
He that was duke of the droves /and of the derfe hillis
Ane Theosellus a tulke/that tened tham unfair
He girdis in with a ginge/ armed in plates
Alto bruntes oure bemes/and brathly woundid
Fellis fele at a frusch/fey to the gronde 1215
And many renke at he rove /rase never efter
Than was sir Meliager moved /and maynely debates
Flinges out on a foie /with a felle spere
Gers many grete syre grane/and girdis thurje maillis
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And many bemes at a braide/in his brath endis
And Sampson on anothir side/setes out belyve
Bruschis furth on a blonke/brymly he smytes
Betes one with a brande/ broken was his lance
Hewis doun of tha hirdis/hurtes thame unfaire
Arystes ane athill man/ai elike fi 3 tes
Spirris out with a spere/and spedis his mi 3 tes
And noyed of thaire notemen/at the nete kepide
And many bald or he blan/bro 3 t out olyve
Caulus anothire kni 3 t/one a kene stede
One Theosellus in twa/his tymbre he brekis
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And than he dryfes to the duke /as demys the texte
And with a swyng of a swerd/swappis of hes hede
When he was drepid and dede/at the droves 3emyde
The prekars of the pastors /and of the proude landis
Alle the folke of his affinite / at fresche ware unewondide
That outhir fote had or foie /to the flijt foundide
Thus Meliager with his men /the menske has achevyd
For the fairer of ther faes/and the feld wonne
Raschis with rethere/and rydis bot a quyle
That ne nejis tham anothir note /as new as the first
Thare was a maister of the marches /mutest of othire
Ane Beritius a berne/as the buke telles
Come girdande out of Gadirs/out of the gretc cite
With the selcuthest soume/that semblid was evir
Slik amynd unto me /ware mervaille to reken
Thretti thousand in thede/of thra men of armes
Slike as was buskest on blonkes/in brenys and plates
And othire folawand on fote/fele withouten noimbre
The multitude was sa mekille/as mynes us the writtes
Of wees and of wild horsis/and wapened preuys
Sa stithe a stevyn in the stoure/of stedis and ellis
As it was semand to sijt/as alle the soyle trymblid
Than ware the Messedones amayd/quen tha see sa many
Sire Meliager in gret mynd/a man out to sende
To sir Alexander belyve/thaire allire maister
To come and help with his here /or thai to hande 3ode
Thare was nane that was glad /that message to gange
Bot ilka lathir and othire /to leve thaire firynde
Fest ther forward in fere /that fewe at thai ware
To do as dri3ten wald deme/and dyi alle togedir
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To tell thaire torfer entyre/it taryed me swythe
Bot so the mode Mellager/and his men fe5tis
That sir Beritius the bald/thai bretned to dethe
And Sampson on this side /was slay ther agaynys
Then moumes all the Messedones/and mayntene him 3eme 1265
Makis ther mane for that man /and many othire noble
For maistris and mynistris/menere and grettere
That was in morsels magged /and martrid a hundrethe
And that left ware one lyfe/bot a litille mejne
Ware als malstrid and mased/and mated of thaire strenthes 1270
Sa waike and so wyndles/and wery forfojten
That thai were wille in this werd/qwat thai worthe sulde
Sir Meliager and othir maa/mayned were sare
Alle bebled and tobrissid/that ne3e ther breth fades
Thai ware sa feble and sa faynt/and fulle of thame selfe 1275
That alle in fere was in fourme/the Hide for to 3elde
Than aires him forth Arestes/was angrily wondid
To Alexander onone/thas auntirs him tellis
The morth of alle the Messedone/and of the many Grekis
Rekens him ther resons/that reuthe was to here 1280
With that the semely kyng/chacches his bemes
Semblis him a huge somme /and fra the sege wendis
The toure of Tire and the toune/titly he leves
And joynes him to Josaphat/ fulle joyles he rydes
Ay he gretes as he gase/for grefe of his kny3tes 1285
Ay he pleynys as he passes /the pite of his erlis
Ay he wepis as he wendis /for his wale princes
And soveraynly for Sampson /he sorowis ay elike
Whenne he was tane toward Tyre /toward the vaile
The werke at he wro3t hadde/that water whytin 1290
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That he had sett in the see /the cite without
Ther in he lefte had a lede/the loge for to kepe
Bot than sir Balaan a berne/at in the burje lengis
Ane of the terandes of Tyre/atyres him belyve
Buskes him in breneis/with big men of armes
With trammes and with tribochetes/the tild to asaile
He bekirs out at the bild/ within the burje wallis
And thai without in the werke/wijtly defendis
Schot scharply betwene/schoures of dartis
Weeis wondirly wele/werpis out stanes
Bot Balaa in the barmekene/sa bitterly fijtis
Alle tocombirs tham clene/with cast of engynes
Sone the top of the toure/he tiltes into the water
And all the tulkis in the tilde /he termens olive
And than in bates and in bargis/he bownes him swyth
To the bothum of the baistelle/he buskis him withalle
Bretens doune alle the bild /and the bemys quellis
Drenches hire in the hije see /and drawis hire on hepis
Quen it was smeten in smalle/with the smert wajes
Ilka gobet his gate/glidis fra othire
Thus was the strenth ilk stike/was in a stounde wasted
And Balaa bowis into the burje/and barris to the 3ates
Be this oure kyng with his knijt/is comen into the vaile
Alexander with ane ost/his knijtes to help
Fyndis a fewe of his folke/fejtaned 3erne
And ay a segge be himselfe/sett alle a hundreth
With that Bucifalon his blonke/he brased in the side
Springis out with a spere/spillis at the gaynest
Ridis even thur3e the route /ther rankest thai were
Be rawe of ther rabetes/he ruschid to the erthe
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He strikis all fra ther stedis/strejt him befome
Was nane sa stiffe in that stoure/mijt stande him agayn
Quare althire-thickest was the thrange/thurje thaim he rynnes
And makis a wai wyde eno 3 e/ waynes to mete
He laschis out a lange swerde/quen his launce fades 1325
Threschis doun in a thrawe/many threvyn dukis
Stirs him sa in a stonde/and his stithe erlis
That ther was [na] beme on bent/bott bretenede or 3 oldene
The seggis on his awen side /that he slayne fyndis
He mas to grave sum in grete/and sum in gray marble 1330
And tha that laft ware of lyve/he lokis ther woundis
And faire fangis his folke/and fra the filde wendis
Than bowes he to the baistalle/and brymly it semblis
Gedirs of ilke glode / grettere and smallire
And prekis furth with his prey /and passes fourward Gadirs 1335
And tijt agayne toward Tyre /to termen his sege
Quen he was drevyn over the dales /and drewe to the cite
With that he blisches to the burje/and sees his bilde voided
Als bare as a bast /his baistelle away
But outhir burde or bate/bot the brade watter 1340
Than moumes alle the Messadones/and maynly was sturbid
And Alexander also /was angrely grevyde
So ware thai troublid out of tone /quen thai thaire tilde mist
That of the taking of Tire/trest thai na langire
And so himselfe in his slepe/the same nijt efter 1345
Him tho 3 t he had in his hand /and helde of a vyne
A growen grape agrype/a grete and a rype
The quilke he flange of on the flore/and with his fete tredis
And quen he broken had the bery/als the beme semes
Ther folowis out of fresche wyne/feetles to mete 1350
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So largely and so delauyly/of licoure him thinkis
Of ane rasyn to ryn/it was a ryfe wondire
The kyng callis him a clerke/kenely on the mome
Als radly as he rase/ to reche him his swevin
Sire bees adred never a dele /the divinore said
I undiretake on my trouthe/Tire is thine awen
For the bery at 3e brake sa/is the buiye even
Thai sail be sesid the fulle sone/and to thiselfe 3olden
For thou sail eft alle on emest/ entire on the wallis
And foulire under thi feete/ within a fewe days
Now compas kenely this kyng/ and castes in his mynde
How he mi3t covere in any cas/to come to the cite
Devynes depely on dais/dropis many wiles
If he cuthe seke any sle3t/that he serve walde
And makes to sett in the see/ri3t in the same place
Ther as the bild at he bidid/biggid wasse first
To stable up a grete strenthe/alle on store schipis
Huger be the halfe dele /and hi3er than the tothire
And that he fiches and firmes/sa last to the walle
So nere unethes at ane eld/mijt narowly betwene
And band hir as the bake sais/bigly togedir
With that scho flisch noth ire fayle/fyve score annkirs
Quen he had ti3t up this tram /and this tild rerid
Hit had of bradnes abofe/to breve out of mesure
And to hede be a huge thing /hi3er it semed
Than was the wallis sais the writt/of the wale touris
Than Alexander alle his ane/anane he ascendis
Closed alle in clere stele /and in clene plates
And monestis ilke modire son/maynly and swyth
That alle be bowne at a brayde/the buiye to assaile
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And alle the ost evyn over /he openly comandis
To be radly alle arayd/and redy to &}t
And quen thai sa}e that himselfe/the cite was entrid
Wan up wi3tly on the wallis/ilk wee him efter
Now tevelis up tabures/and alle the toun rengis
Steryn stevyn up strake/strakid ther trumpis
Blewe bemys of bras/bemis assemblis
Sejes to on ilke syde/and a saute 3eldis
Thare presis to with panes /peple withouten
Archars with arows/of atter envemonde
Schotes up scharply/at shalkes on the wallis
Lasche at tham of loft /many lede sle3en
And thai 3apely a3ayne/and 3ildis tham swythe
Bekir out of the bur3e/balde men many
Kenely thai kast of/ with kastes of stanys
Drives dartes at our dukis/dedly tham woundide
Than passe up our princes / prestly enarmed
Into the baistell abofe/bremely ascendide
Sum with lances on loft /and with lange swerdis
With ax and with alblaste/and alkens wapen
Alexander ai elike / angrily fe3tes
Now a schaft now a schild/now a scheve hentes
Now a sparth now a spere/and sped so his mi3tes
That it ware tere any tonge/to of his turnes rekyne
And thai within on the walle/worthili-withstude
Fersly defen de of/ and fellid of his kny3tes
Thristis over thike fald/many threvyn beme
And doun bakward tham bare /into the brade watter
With that oure wees without /writhis thame unfare
Went wode of thair witt/and wrekes tham swythe
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For na wounde ne na wathe/wand thai na langer
Bot alle wirkes him the wa/and wrake at he cuthe
Sum braidis to ther bowis/bremely thai schut
Quechirs out quarels/quikly betwene
Strykis up of the stoure/stanes of engynes
That the bretage above /brast alle in soundir
Girdis over garetts/with gomes to the erthe
Tilt torettes doun/toures one hepis
Spedely with sprygaldis/ spilt thaire braynes
Many mi3tfulle man / marris one the wallis
And be the kimells ware kast/and kutt doun before
Be that the baistelle and the burje/ware bathe elike hije
And all oure werke without the wallis /weterly semed
The sidis of the cite/to se to o femes
Than Alexander belyf/on tham alle entirs
Bruschis in with a brand /on bemes a hundreth
Thrange thui^e a thousand /thare thikest thai were
Wynnes worthly over the wallis /within to the cite
The first modir son he mett/othir manne outhir
Was Balaan the bald beme/as the boke tellis
And him he settes on asaute/and sloje him belyve
And werpid him out over the wall /into the wild streme
Sone as our athils behind /saje ther he entrede
His men and alle the Messedones/maynly ascendis
And thai of Grece gredely/ girdis up eftir
Thringes upon a thraw/thousandes many
Sum stepis up on sties /to the stane wallis
On ilk staffe of a staire/stike wald a cluster
And qua sa leddirs had nane/as the lyne tellis
Wald gett tham hald with ther hend/and onloft clyme
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Sa frejt ware ther othire/that fe 3 tes within
For Balaan ther bald duke /that brojt was of lyre
That all failis tham the force /and so ferd worthe
That nothir with stafe ne with stane/ withstand thai na langer
Sir Alexander with his athils/and his awen sle 3 tes 1445
The toune of Tire thus he tuke/and othir twa bulges
In the quilke the Siriens of this sire /so many sondes hade
As wald bot tary alle oure tale/thair tourment to reken
Sone as this cite was sesid/and slayne up and 3 oldene
Then ridis furth the riche kyng/and remowed his ost 1450
Gais him furth to Gasa/anothir grete cite
And that he settes on asaute/and sessis it belyve
And quen this Gasa was geten/he raythis him swythe
And joynes him toward Jerusalem /the Jewis to distroy
And 3 e that kepis of this carpe/to knaw any ferre 1455
Son sail I neven 30W the note /that is next efter
3CIeran&ri.
Als hastily as thai herd of/ in the Haly Cite
And bodword to the bischop/bro 3 t of his come
For Alexander a 3 e/almast he even deis
For he had nite him a neraud/no 3 t bot o new time 1460
And now him thinke in his tho 3 t/him thurt no 3 t have carid
In all his maste myster/nad he that man faylid
When he for socure to the cite /sent him his letter
And he soyned him be his sorement/that sare him forthinkes
For me had lever quoth the lede/be lethirely forsworn 1465
On as many halidoms/as opens and speris
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Than anys have grevyd that gome /or warned him his erand
That ever I warned him his wille/wa is me that stonde
Thus was Jaudes of joy /and jolite depryved
And all the Jewis of Jerusalem/he joyntly asembles
He said Alexander is at hand /and will us all cumbre
And we ere dredles undone /bot Drijten us help
Than bedis the bischop alle the burje/bames and othir
Athils of alle age/eldire and yongire
Comandis to ilka creatore / to crie thurje the stretes
To thre dais on a thrawe/be threpild togedir
Ilk a frek and ilk a fantc/to fast and to pray
To ocupy ther oures and orisons /and offir in ther temple
And call up with a clene voice /to the kyng of hevyn
To kepe tham at this conquiroure/encumbrid thaim never
Now sejen thai to ther sinagoges/all the cite ovir
Ilka bodi ther bedis /that in the burje lengis
Putt tham to prayris/and penaunce enduris
The vengance of this victoure/to voide if thai mijt
The nijt efter the note /and tellis me the writtes
Quen alle the cite was onslepe/and sacrifis endide
In ane abite of the aire/an aungell aperis
To Jaudas of Jerusalem /and him with joy gretis
I bringe the bodword of blis/sir bischop he said
With salutes of solas /I am sent fra the trone
Fra the maister of man /the mijtfulle Fadere
That bedis the no3t be abaist/He has thi bone herd
And I amonest the tomome/as I am enjoyned
That thou as radly as thou rise/aray alle the cite
The stretes and in alle stedis/ stoutly and faire
That it be onest alle onise/and open up the 3ates
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Lett than the pupille ilka poll/apareld be clene
And al manere of men /in my lk quyte clathis
And pas thou and thi prelates /and prestes of the temple
Raveste alle on a raw/as jour rewille askis
And quen this conquirore comes / caire him agaynes
For he mon ride thus and regne/ovir alle the ronde werde
Be lordschip in ilka lede/into his laste days
And then he dijt to the deth/of Drijtins ire
Sone the derke ovirdrafe/and the day springes
Oure bischop bounes him of bed /and buskis on his wedis
And then jogis alle the Jewis/and generalle callis
Avaies thaim his vision /how the voice bedis
Than consals him the clergy /clene alle togedir
And alle the cite asentis/Sarajens and othir
To buwne furth with alle the burje / and buske tham belyve
As him was said in his slepe/this soverayn to mete
Than rynnes he furth in a rase /and arais alle the cite
Braides ovir with bawdkins/alle the brade stretis
With tars and with tafete/ there he trede sulde
For the erth to slike ane emperour/ware ovire feble
He plyes ovir the pavement /with pallene webis
Mas on hijt ovir his hede/for hete of the sone
Sylours of sendale/to sele ovire the gatis
And sammes thaim on aithir side/with silken rapis
And then he caggis up one cordis /as curteyns it ware
Even as the esyngis 3ede/ ovire be the costes
Alle the wawis withoute/in webis of ynde
Of brit blasand blewe/browden with stemes
Thus atired he the toune/and titely ther efter
On ilka way widopen/werped he the 3atis
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And qua so lukis fra without /and within haldis
It semyd as the cite to se/ane of the sey hevyn
Now passis forth this prelate /with prestis of the temple
Revested him rially/and that in riche wedis
With erst and abite undir all /as I am inforemede
Full of bridis and of bestis/of bise and of purpre
And that was gamest full gay /with goldene skirtis
Store starand stanes/strekillande alle ovir
Sandid folle of safirs/and othir sere gemes
And poudird with perry /was perrour and othir
And sithen he castis on a cape /of kastand hewes
With riche rabies of gold /railed bi the hemmes
A vestour to vise one /of violet floures
Wrojt folle of wodwose/and othir wilde bestis
And than him hijtilde his hede/and had on a mitre
Was forged all of fyne gold /and fret folle of perrils
Stijt staffolle of stanes/that strajt out bemes
As it ware shemerand shaftis/of the shire sonne
Doctores and divinores/and othir dere maistris
Justis of Jeury/and jogis of the lawe
Ware tired all in tonacles/of tarrayne webbis
Thai were bretfolle of bees /alle the body ovir
And othir clientes and clerkis/as to the kirke fallis
Ware alle samen of a soyte/in surples of raynes
That slike a sijt I supose/was never sene efter
So paraded a procession /a person agaynes
Now bowis forth the bischop/at the buiye 3ates
With prestis and with prelatis/a pake out of nombre
And alle the cite in sorte/felowis him efter
Quirris forth alle in quite /of qualite as aungels
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Maistirs marchands and maire/mynistris and othir
Worthi wedous and wenchis/and wyves of the cite
Be ilka bame in the burgh /as blajt ere thaire wedis
As any snyppand snawe/that in the snape lijtes
Ther passis the procession /a piple befome
Of childir alle in chalk quyte/ chosen out a hundreth
With bellis and with baners/and blasande torchis
Instrument^ and ymagis/ within of the mynstire
Sum with censours and so[m] / with silveryne cheynes
Quare of the reke aromatike/rase to the welken
Sum with of the sayntware/many sere thingis
With tablis and topoures/and tretice of the lawe
Sum bolstirs of bumet/enbrounden with penile
Bare before the bischop/his buke on to lig
Sum candilstickis of clere gold /and of clene silver
With releckis fulle rially/the richest on the auutere
Thus seyis alle the semle/the cite withoute
Unto a stonen stede/strejt on the temple
Scopulus by sum skille/the scripture it callis
And thare the come of the kynge/this covent abidis
Sone Alexander with ane ost/of many athill dukis
Come prekand toward the place /with princes and erlis
Sees slike a multitude of men /in milke quite clathis
And ilk seg in a soyte/at selly him thinkis
Than fyndis he in this othire flote/fanons and stolis
Practisirs and premates /and prestis of the lawe
Of dialiticus and decre/doctours of aythir
Bathe chambirlayn and chaplayne/in chalk quite wedis
And as he waytis in a wra/than was he ware sone
Of the maister of that meneyhe/in myddis the puple
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That was the bald bischop/abofe all the Jewis
Was grathid in a garment /of gold and of purpree
And than he heves up his e 3 e/behaldis on his mytere
Before he sa 3 e of fyne gold/forgid a plate 1590
Therin graven the gretteste/of all Gods names
This title Tetragramaton/for so the text tellis
With that comandis the kyng/his kny 3 ts ovir ilkane
Bathe berone and bacheler/and bald men of armes
Na nere that place to aproche/a payne of ther lyvys 1595
Bot alle to hald tham behynd/heraud and othir
Than airis he furth alle him ane/to this athill mene 3 e
Bowis him doun of his blonke/the bischop befome
And kneland on the cald erth/he knockis on his brest
And reverence 3 His haly Name /at he seis wreten 1600
Than the Jewis of Jerusalem /justis and othir
Lordis and ladis/and the litill childere
Enclynes tham to the conquiroure/and him on kneis gretes
Kest up a kene crie/and carpis ther wordis
Ay mo 3 t he lefe ay mo 3 t he lefe/ quoth ilka man twyse 1605
Alexander the athill aire/undir the hevyn
Ay mo 3 t he lefe ay mo 3 t he lefe /quoth the lege emperour
The wildire of all the werde/and worthist on erthe
Ay mo 3 t he lefe ay mo 3 t he lefe /quoth loude all at anys
Overcomere clene of ilka coste/and overcomyn never 1610
The gretest and the gloriosest/that ever God formed
Erie or emperoure/and any erdly prince
Thare was comen with him kynges/as the clause tellis
Seneiours out of Sireland/was to himselfe holden
And thai mervailed tham mekille/as the buke tellis 1615
When thai it herd so beheryde/and held it in wondir
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Than Permeone a proude knijt/and prince of his oste
Aires to sir Alexander /and askis at him swythe
Syn him adoured alle men/eldire and 3ongere
Qui he obeschide so lawe and bende/the bischop of Jewis
Nay quoth the comly kynge/and the knijt swaris
Nouthir haylsid I him/ne hildide him nouthere
Bot it was Gode at I grete/the govemoure of alle
Of quam in the abite and the armes/he was alle dethid
For in the marche of Messedone/me mynes on a tyme
That slike a segg in my slepe/me sodanly aperid
Evyn in slike a similitude /and this same wedis
For alle the werd as this wee/wendis now atired
And then I mused in my mynde/how at I my3t wynn
Anothire auelle of the erth/that Aysy we call it
And me thret to be thra/and for na thing turne
Bot tire me titely therto/and tristly to wende
And syne sa3e I na segg /that sa was arayd
And sekirly thone semys/the same to se
The same Gode at I in my slepe/sa3e in my days
And now I hope me thmye the helpe/of the haly Fadir
Of quam the herid haly name/is 3ondir on hi3e wreten
To do with Darius or I dyi/how so me dere thinke
And the pride of alle the Persens/ purely distroy
And 3it I sothely supose/quat so my sale hopis
That sail falle apon fold/slik fyaunce I have
In the grace of grete God/ at gyes alle the sternes
That it salle be in my will/ and on na way faile
Now tas the bischop the berne/and to the bur3e wendis
With sange and solempnite/him to the cite ledis
He was resay ved as I rede /with reverence and joye
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As he ware duke of ilk douth/and drevyn doun fra hevyn
Than gas he furth with his ginges/to Godes awen temple
That of sir Salamon the sage /sett was and foundid
And thare he lythis of thaire lare/as the Law wald
He offird in that oratori/and honoured oure Lorde
And Jaudas of Jerusalem/and alle the Jewis efter
Bringis out a brade buke/and to the beme reches
Was plant fulle of prophasys/playnely alle ovir
Of the doctrine of Daniell/and of his dere sawis
The lord lokis on the lyne/and on a lefe fyndis
How the gomes out of Grece/suld with thair grete mijtes
The pupille out of Persye/ purely distroy
And that he hopes sail be he /and hertly he joyes
Than partis he to tha prelates /many proude gifts
Was nane sa pore in that place /bot he his purse fillid
Geves tham garsons of gold /and of gud stanes
Rife riches enoje/robies and perles
Besands to the bischop/he bed out of noimbre
Reches him of rede gold/ransons many
Tas him to his tresory/ talent him to shewe
Bad him wale quat he wald /and wild him the tother
Hit bedis he him the bald kyng/as the buke tellis
Sire quat thou will in this werd/to wild and to have
Nojt bot aske at it Alexander /quat thou will apon reson
And I sail grant or I ga/with a gud will
Than bowis doun the bischop/and him a bone askis
Sir this I depely disire/ durst I it nevyne
That it be levefull us oure lare/and oure law use
As oure fadirs has folowid/forwith this tyme
As of 30ur grete gudnes/at 3e grant walde
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To lat us sitt be safe/bot for this sevyn wynter
But tribute or trouag/quils the terme lastis
Than were we halden alle the hepe/to hije the for ever
And 3 it I will be 30 ur leve/a worde and na mare 1680
That the men of Medi/man be 30 ure leve
Lang alle in oure lawe/lely togedir
And thai of Babilon bathe /and bede I nan othir
Quoth Alexander belyve/alle this I graunt
And els any othir thinge/aske and be served 1685
Nay now na mare quoth the man /and mekly him thankid
Bot ay thi lordschip and thi love/quils my lyfe dures
Now kastes this conquirore/to caire fra the cite
And mas to bide in the bu^e/a beme of his awyn
A messagere to mynne on/quat men of him said 1690
Ane Ardromacius a gome /as the buke tellis
Than bowis to the bischop/his benyson to fange
Takes luflyk is leve /and lendis on forthere
To sere cites ther besyde/he so 3 t with his hostis
And thai frendly and faire/frely resay ved him 1695
Than of the Siriens summe/in the same tyme
Folow fra the felle kinge/as fals men suld
Did tham to sir Darius /and depely tham playnt
Quat errour of this emperour/and evill thai suffirde
And he tham faire undirfonge/and fraynes thaim 3 erne 1700
Askis tham of sir Alexander /alle at he cuthe
Bathe of his statoure and his strenth/if he were store bon
His qualite his quantite/he quirys alle togedire
And thai in parchement him paynted/his person him shewid
Ane amlare ane asaleny/ane ape of alle othire 1705
A wirling a wayryngle/a wawil-e 3 id shrewe
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The cai teste creatour/that cried was evire
And than as he leves/and lokis on his fourme
His litillaike and his lickness/he laythy dispiced
And thre thinges of his thede/ he thojt sa feble 1710
He dressis to him in dedeyne/and in dispite sendis
First a balle says the buke/the bame with to play
A heme panne es of a beme/of brend gold yeven
For hottre and for hethinge/a hatt made of twygges
Sayd that was benere him to bere/than a bri3t helmet 1715
Slike presandis out of Persy /he to the prince sendis
His brefe with a brade sele/and biddis hum ga s wythe
And qua sa will has to wete/how it worthis eftir
Now sail I neven us here next /the note of his letter
<0ctatra£ pagjtfug 3HIejeanbri.
Sire dere Darius on dese/the digne emperoure
The kyng without comparison / of kynges alle othire
Of all lordis the lord /that leves in erthe
Predicessore of princes /and peree to the sonne
The soverayne sire of my soyle/that satis in my trone
In fang with my faire godis/that I affie maste
To Alexander that of alle /so angrily him letes
Oure subject and oure servand/thus we oure selfe write
For it is wayned us to wete/that wickedly thou haves
Thune enmyte and envy/elacoun of pride
Be vanyte and vayne glori/that in thi wayns kindlis
Purvayd the pletours/oure partis to ride
For thou has samed as men may sais/a selly noimbre
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Of wrichis and wirlinges/out of the west endis
Off laddis and of losengers/and of litille thevys
Slike sary sorojis as thi selfe/to seke us agaynes 1735
And wenes to wild alle thi will /and that worthis ful late
The provynce and principalte/of Persye la Graunt
For thou ert fere alto faynt/oure force to minister
Thof thou had gedird alle the gomes /that evir God fourmede
So man rived is our rewme/that thou may rejt lycken 1740
The store strenthe of oure stoure/to stemes of the heven
And slike a nekard as thi selfe/a no3t of alle othir
Is hot a madding to mell/with mare than him selven
Forthi is better unbynd/and of the brathe leve
And feyne alle with faimes/and fayne at thou may 1745
For mare menseke is a man /to meke him be tyme
Than efter made to be meke/malgreue his chekis
For all the gracious godis/and gudnes one erthe
That sanys cete and soile/and sustaynes the erthe
Prayses ay the Persyns/ passing all othir 1750
And for the oddiste of ilka ost/honoures oure name
And slike a dwinynge a dwaje/and a dwerje as thi selfe
A grub a grege out of grace /ane erd-growyn sorowe
Will covet jit as a king /with catefes to lyte
To cover at combrid alle the kynges/undir the cape of heven 1755
Rijt as a flaw of felle snawe/war fallyn of a ryft
Of a wysti wonne waghe/with the wynd blawen
So with a flote of Fresons/folowand thi helis
Thou sekis fraword Sichim/thi selfe wrothir-haile
And levys as a lorell/thus our lande to entire 1760
And maa thi lepis and thi laikes/and quat the liste ellis
As ratons or ruje myse/in a rowme chambre
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Aboute in beddis or in bemys/thar baddis ere nane
Bot I have wilily waited/thi wiles and thi casds
And quen thou hopis allther hiest/to have alle thi will
I sail the sett one a saute/and sla the my handis
Forthi for pompe or for pride /thi purpose avise
Tume the trechoure betime/that thou na treson have
And drawe agayn to thi den/undir thi dam wynges
Se quat I send to the sone/thi selfe with to laike
A hatt and a hand ball/and a heme panne
Slike presandis to play with /as pertines to babbis
For ai a child mothe chese/to childire geris
For mestir and miserie/unneth may thou forthe
Thine awen caitefe corse /to clethe and to fede
And supposis as a sott/to sese oure land
And outhir Darius to drepe/or dryfe fra his kythis
Bot by the grace and the gude/that God gave my fadir
So rived is the rede gold /oure regions within
That qua sa had it on a hepe/haly togedir
It wald us let as I leve/the ]iyt of the son
Forthi bide I the badriche/one bathe twa thine ejen
And one the plegg and the payn/and perill as folowis
Alle thi vanyte to voide/and thi vayne pride
And mew agayne to Messedone/or any mare falle
For be the saule of my sire /bot if thou sone tume
We salle the send sike a somme/of segis enarmed
No3t as Philips fant/salle fare with thi selfe
Bot as a prince of proved theues/pyne the to dede
Als sone as his sandismen/to this sire come
Thai present him the playntes/the pistill him rechis
And Alexander belyve/ before alle his princes
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To alle his ost evyn one /he openly declaris
And quen his knijtis of this clause /the carpe undirstode
Then ware thai frekly afirayd/of the felle sajes
And as sone as himselfe saje/his seggis amoved
In bilding of his bachelers/he brevys thire wordis
Quat now my worthi werriours/sa wijt and sa noble
Mi bemes and my baratours/the best undir heven
Lettes nevir it brojt be on brade/for upbraide of schame
3e doute for the indityngs/ of Darius pistils
I sett 30 we ane ensample/ 3 e se it alle daye
In thorps and in many thede/ther 3 e thmye ride
At ilka cote a kene curre/as he the chache walde
Bot as bremely as he baies/he bitis never the faster
Bot in sume I suppose wele/that sothe is the letter
Thare as he tellis quyche a tunne/of tresoure he havys
Forthi us buse to be bigger /and bataille him 3 eld
The grete garisons of gold/salle gedir up oure hertes
With that comands the kyng/his kny 3 tes belyve
The donesmen that fra Darius come /with the derfe letter
That thai suld titly tham take /and by the t 03 e throtis
And for thaire soverayne sake /tham send to the galawis
Than was tha messangers amaied/as mervaile ware ellis
With kene carefulle crie/this conquirore thai said
Allas quat lake lyse in us lord /if it be 30 ure wille
Thus causeles for oure kynge/encumbird to worthe
The sa 3 es of 30 m soverayne /said the kynge thenne
Nedis me to slike notes /as I had never etlide
That has 30W sent to myselfe/no 3 t sa as him a 3 e
Loo litille thefe in ilka lyne/his letter me callis
3 a quoth thai comly kyng/and on knees fallis
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Thase ditis endited to 30 we/sir Darius himselvyne
For he knew no 3 t of 3 ore kni 3 thede/ne of 3 ore kid strenth
Ne wist no 3 t of 30 ur worthenes/and wrate all the baldir 1825
Bot wald 3 e grant us to gaa/and gefe us 3 ore lefe
Then suld we bremely yore bille/to the beme shewe
Then lete the lord tham allane/and went till his fest
Takis tham with him to his tent /and tham at ese makis
Sone as tbai in his sale /were sett at the table 1830
Sire Alexander athill kynge/ quoth alle with a stevyn
Comande with us to caire/kni 3 ts a thousand
And we salle surely oure sire /the send in thaire handis
3 a make we blis quoth the kyng/ blithe mote 3 e worthe
For as for takynge of 3 ore lord /salle na lede wynde 1835
To Darius another day/endites he a pistill
A crest clenly inclosid/that consayved this wordis
Alexander the aire/and eldest childe bathe
Of kyng Philip the fers/the fender of Grece
And als of Olimpades/that honorable lady 1840
To the Darius on dese/thus dite I my letter
Thou prince of alle the Persyns/that peres to the sonne
The conquiroure of ilka cost/callid of thiselfe
With all thi gracious godis/graitbid in thi trone
Alle thus I send to 30 we I my sawe/undir my sele wretene 1845
Sir if we se with a suth/ surely me thinke
Oure facultes oure faire fees /oure fermes and oure landes
We may no 3 t chalang tham ne clayme/ne call thaim oure aweyn
Bot all I deme it as det/and to a day borowid
For sen we riden on the rime/ and on the ringe seten 1850
Of the qwele of fortoun the quene/that swiftly changes
Ofte pas we in povert/fra plente of gudes
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Fra mirthe into morenyng/fira morenyng into joye
For now us wantes in a quirre/as the quele turnes
Quen we suppose in our sele/to sit alther-heist
Than fondis furth dame Fortoun/to the flode 3ates
Dra3es up the damme horde /and drenchis us evir
Forthi a we that has wit/thofe he wele suffir
So sadly in soveraynete/he set nevir his hope
For pride of na propirite/ne prise at him folewis
To olle ay on his undirling/for over-laike a quile
For any sele undir son /a sott I him hald
That ay has deyne and dispite /at dedis of litille
Sen of the haven lest here /is hoven to the stemes
And he that graithist is of gudis/gird alle to poudire
Forthi a depe dishonoure/3e do to 30ure name
Ane emperoure that on erth/is evyn to 30ure selfe
To me sa litill and sa lawe/slike letters to sende
And presand out of Persy /hot for a pure hethynge
For thou enherestes alle this erth/and evens to the sonn
And callis the kyng of ilka kithe/ undir the cape of heven
And therto sittes as thou sais/in sege as ane aungell
Togedire with thi grete gods /and on a gilt trone
Bot syn gostid godesses and gods /ere graythid nevir to dye
Bot ai sail last furth elike/on lyve evire mare
Thai nane no wille to my notis/ne wilnyng to have
No dole ne no daliance/of dedely bemes
Bot I knaw I am coruptible/and caire 30W agaynes
Als with a dedly duke /to do my bataill
Bot thou thof thou the victor availe/na vaunte sail arise
Ne lose bot as a litill thefe/30w limpid to encumbre
Bot chance it me that am a child/the chever to worthe
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So that be gevyn me the gree/grete glorie is myn awen
For than salle spring up the speche/and sprede out of mynd
How I have conquired a kyng/the kidest of the werd 1885
Bot a tale 3 e me tald/I trow be na faile
Of the ryfenes of the rede gold/ 3 ore region within
Quilke plente is in Persey/of perelle and of ellis
The somme of silver and of siche/and of sere stanes
Thare with oure wittes has ther wele/and our wille sharpid 181)0
And blid with thi besands/the bataille to 3 eld
Made us corageous and kene/ 30 ur clere gold to wyn
And put away oure poverty plede us to halde
Bot as touchand the trufils / that 3 e to me sent
The heme-pan the hand-balle/the hatt made of twiggis 1895
Thar has thou prophesid apart /and playnely us schewid
And faire affirmed us before /that sail falle efter
For by the balle sir I breve /alle the brode werd
The erthe at to myne enpire/enterely bees 3 olden
And be the hat that is holewe/ before the heved bowed 1900
I constru that ilka kyng/ salle clyne to myself
Than hope I be the heme-pan /that the hede covirs
Overcomere to be callid/and ovircomen nevire
Now thou the grettest under God/graithis me trouage
With all this dignites bedene/ 3 t I divined have 1905
This brefe bedis thai him bere/and besands tham rechis
And efter armes alle his ost/and airis one efter forthir
Sir Darius for the ditie /nere died he for angire
To twa of the derrest of his dukes /ditis he this pistill
I the corounest kyng/of kynges all othire 1910
To the sir Primus a prince /of Persye the grettest
And als to sir Antagoyne / mvn awen athill dukis
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The soveraynest of my seignourie/my Saroparis hatten
Se here I send 30 W my seele/with salutes of joye
Fra Alexander the kyng/as I am inforemed 1915
Is entrid with oure enmys/an endles noimbre v
The anglies of Asie/and has tham alle stroyed
Forthi of life and o lym/my lege men I charge
To prestli 30 W apparaill/and pas tham agaynes
With alle the hathils and the heris/and the hi 3 e maistris 1920
That 3 e may semble in the sidis/saudiours and othire
Then chese 30 W furth my chiftanes/and me the child take
Laches me this losengere/and ledis me him hedir
That I may him skelp with a skorge/and then of skire pourpure
A side slavyn him sewe/and send him to his modire 1925
For now he proches for pride /and propurly he wedis
Forthi him bose to be bett/as a bame fallis
For it a 3 e no 3 t slike ane asald/nane aventures to off werre
Bot at the bowlis as a brode/or with a ball playe
Thire princes sone as the pistill/was put thame in hand 1930
Than part thai the proud sele/the prince thai ad honrede
Unlappis li 3 tly the lefe/and the line redes
And thusgate agynward/thai graithid him anothir
To the kiddest kyng to acount/of kynges alle othir
Sir Dari with thi dere godis/drifed one thi trone 1935
Governoure of ilk a gome /and god alle thiselfe
Thi Satrapairs thi seiniours/with servage obeschen
Sire wetis it wele 30 ur worthines/and wenys it na langir
That this child with his chiftans / that 3 e cnarge us to take
Has reden alle oure regions /and raymed oure landis 1940
Deperted alle oure provynce/and purely it wastid
And we than lift up a lite/and lent him agayne
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Ferd forth with a flote/and him in the fyld metis
Bot sone we bed him the bake /and him besely we shapid
Out of the handis unhewyne/of our hatiil fais
And now haly all the hepe/at }e 30 ure help callis
Unto joure mekille majeste/we mekely beseke
That us joure lege and 3 oure lele men /it likid 30W to forthir
Or thanne oure wirschip atwynde/and wastid be the regine
As radly as the riche kyng/had red over this pistil! 1950
Be that mevis in a messangere/and maynly him tellis
That Alexander was at hand /and had his ost loygid
Apon the streme of Struma /that strekis thur 3 e his landis
Sire Darius for tha ditis/was depely agrevyd
Callis him his consail/a clause he him endites 1955
Mas a brefe at a braide/and it in brathe sendis
To Alexander as belyve/and alle thus him gretes
I sire Dari the deyne/and derfe emperoure
The kyng of kynges I am callid/a conquirore bathe
Of all lordis the lord/alose thmye the werd 1960
And ane of the soverayne sires /undir the vij stemes
To the my servand I send /and suthely thou knawe
And wete thou wele thiuye alle the werd /is wirschip oure name
For alle the gracious gods /at the ground visitis
Alle ere done me to doute / ducsses and othir 1965
How burde the than be sa bald /for blod in thi heved
To move thus ovir the mounteyns/and ovir the many waters
With slike a somme one the see /a saute so to 3 eld
Or any maistrie to make /my majeste agayne
For well a wide ware the wele /wete thou nan othire 1970
Bathe thi glorie and thi grace /thi gladnes in erthe
Mi 3 t thou the marches of Messedoyne/mayntene thi selfe
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And go verne bot thine awen gronde/agaynes oure wille
For thi ware better unbynde/or thou bale suffir
Remowe agayne to thi rewme/and rew of thi werkes
For certayne nys my seignurie/ne I my selfe nouthir
Alle the werd my3t a wedowe/wele thanne be callid
Forthi toume the betime/or any tene worthe
Or at the hate of my hert/apon thi hede kindille
Lend agayne to thi lande/nowe quen thou leve havys
That I mete the in my malicoly/my meth be to littille
Forthi to ken the to knaw/my kyndnes here eflere
Bath my grace and my glori/and my grete strenthe
Loo here a glove full of graynes/I graythe the to take
Of the chesses of a chesbolle/ chosen for the nanys
For may thou sowme me thire sedis/ surely thou trowe
Thou mi3t acount alle our knijts/and oure kyd ostes
And thou truches thaim to telle /then tidis the na nother
Bot move agayn to Messedone/and meve the na forthire
Fyne foie of thi fare /and fange to thi kythis
For this sede I the send/unsowmyd bees nevir
So ere we of all folke/folke to be nombrid
Or any wee to acounte/undire the clere stemys
Now aires furth his athille men /to Alexander wendis
Unto the streme of Struma/ stre3t with tha letters
And he tham redis in a rese/and reches to the sedis
Tastis tham undir his tuthe/and talkis thir wordis
Here I se quoth this sire/be thir ilke comes
That the pupill out of Persy /ere passandly many
Bot thame semes to be softe/as ther sedis provys
Forthi how fele be alle the flote/it forces bot litille
Be this was men of Messedone/fra his modir comen
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And said that semely was seke/and semed to die
And he the waest of the werd/wald worth hire to visite
Bot 3it to Dary or he went he dijt thus a letter
$omt£ SClejcantiri.
Alezsaunder the athille/aire oute [of] Grece
The son of Philip the fers/and of his faire lady
Honoured Olimpadas/the oddest undir hevyn
To the sir Dari one thi dese/this dities I write
For I am sent by the sure/many sere letters
And namly now on newe time /fra myne awen kithe
Out of the marche of Messadone/that mekill me greves
All other wais to wirke/my wille likis
Bot I wame the or I wynd/and will at thou knaw
That for na drede I withdraw /ne doute of thi pride
For baisting of thi bobance/ne of thi breme wordis
Bot for to see that is seke/my semely modire
Bot wete thou wele this iwis/ within a wale time
Fra that I fraist have that faire/of my fayra lady
I sail the seke with a sowme/of seggis enarmed
An ost to noy thus to nevyne/alle of new kni}ts
And for the sake of thi sonde/thou sent with thi letter
Loo here a purse full of pepire/my power to ken
To se thiselfe a similitude /how alle thi soft grayns
Sail undirput be all the pake/unto ther peper comes
This pistill to Persons/he with his peper takis
Partis prestly tham to /many proude giftes
And thai have lojte tham ther leve/and the letter fangis
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And passis on to Persy /the princes to schewe
Than Alexander belyve/with his athill dukis
Rais him radly to ride /and remowis his ost
Fra the streme of Struma he states /and still moumes
And mevis him toward Messedone/his moder to visit
He aires thurje Arabie/and armed ther he findis
A duke of Darys the kyng/that drafe him agayne
A pere out of Persy /and prince of his ost
A maister man in tha marches/ Amont was hatten
He girdis him with a ginge/the Grekis he asailes
With Alexander alle day/asperly fejtis
Marres of the Messedons/m^tfulle knijhts
Dinges doun of the dukes /deris tham unfaire
Fra morne to the mirke nijt/maynly tha cocken
Se3es doun on aythir side / segis out of noimbre
Begynnys sone in the gray day /as any gleme springes
And so to sett of the son/sesid thai nevir
Thus thre dais out a thraw/thai threpe ay elike
So lange sais me the lyne/lastid the bataille
Sike scoures were of blude/of schondirhede bernes
That foies ferd in the flosches/to the fetelakis
Sa store and stithe was the stoure/the story me tellis
That for soroje of the s^t/the son one the heven
Rest away his clerete/and his clippis sufiirs
For bale to blische on the blode/at on the bent flo3es
With that oure gomes out of Grece/gedirs up ther hertes
Fey fallis in the filde/fele of thire othire
The powwere of Persy /in partis many
Se3es sidlings doun/slayn of thaire blonkes
And quen the duke of sir Darys /tha dedis behaldes
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Amonta the mijtfulle/his men than he fanges
And uneth limpid him the lee /the lyne me recordes 2060
Fra his faes with a fewe/the hide to devoide
And slike a pas sais the prose /to Persy he ridis
That hit the selfe sandismen/he in the sale fyndis
That fra the streme of Sturma/were apon stedis wysed
Fra Alexander and his ost/with his athille pistill 2065
And jit sire Dary on his dese/tha dities avisis
Held the letter in his love /at at the ledis fraynes
Quat he said of the sedis/that he himselfe sent
And thai swiftly him sward /apd swyth thus him tellis
The king him kajt quoth the knijts/and on the comes bites 2070
And wele he geses be the graynes/joure gomes ere fele
Bot a thing he said he saje/that solast him maste
Thai ware bot soft he suposed/for so the sede proved
Than pullis him up the proude kyng/and on the pepir tastes
Said as it tuke him by the tonge/his tulkis ere fewe 2075
Bot be his knijts as kene/as me this comes shewis
A1 the werd ware to waike/his wrothe hert to stand
The mody man Amonta /than raelis thir wordis
Jis he ledis bot a lite/lord with joure lefe
There is bot fewe at him folojes/bot fejtand bemes 2080
Bot mare fersere in feld/felle nevir of modire
For I my selfe with a sowme / set thaim agayns
With of the Persyns proude /a pake out of noimbre
Fewire than his folke/be ftille fyve thousand
And 3it us fell alle to ferre/the faster to wortlie 2085
For thai have hedid of oure hathils/and a hepe woundid
Fey falne to the fold /many fers erlis
Bet doun oure bachelers/my baner torased
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And a selly sorame/slayne of my kn^tes
Quethire days thre thurjeout/thraly we fo 3 ten 2090
Derfe dintes and dreje/delt and takene
And }it the lawest at the last/us limpid to bee
And unethis savyd I myselfe/unslayne of ther handes
Bot treuly sir quoth the duke/gret tresore me thinke
At Alexander the athille/for of alle ware he maistere 2095
Avanced with the victore/and vengid on his fees
Was never the hejare of a hawe/his hert fulle of pride
For mekely ilka modir sonn/his awen men and othire
Als wele the pure Persens/as the grete Grekis
All the douthe at was dede/bedene he coman ds 2100
To gedir tham up ilka gome /and tham in gravys ligg
Now Alexander and his ost/ armed one ridis
And sone Cicile/he with his seggis entirid
Ther sere citis of tha sidis/to hiraselfe sweren
And saudiours him to sewe/seventene thousand 2105
Than rede he ovir into ane ile/Yssanna was hatten
And that was 3 apely him 3 evyn/and 3 olden belyve
Than up he clame to a cliffe/that to the cloudis semed
The Top of Tare to taken /the tretis it callis
Thare fend he tildid on the top /and tild up a cite 2110
The proude toune of Persopole/and to the place he ne 3 es
Thare sa 3 e he selcuthes sere /as the buke sais
The muses of musicke and the merke/how it was made first
Than aires he into Asie/and ai as he foundis
Alle the cites of tha sidis/he sesis tham clene 2115
So fares he furth to Frigien/anothir faire ile
And ane ther of his aid gods /he honourd in a temple
Than ferd he furth to a flum/was fyve cubetes brad
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Scamandra the clire flode/the scriptore it callis
Now happy be jee quoth the hathill/alle in hert beris 2120
The honouris of that odd clerke/Homore the grete
Mekelle dere quod ane Doctoneus/of 30W I deme sail
And he of the takyng of Troi/tald alle his lyve
Nay I wold more worth quod the /a wyseman disiple
Than the honore that Acheles/ajt alle his time 2125
Than moves he him to Messedone/with his mony princes
Amendid of hire malidy/his modire he fyndis
A litill dais with hire lengis/and of hire lyfe joyes
And graythes him than with his gere/and agayn fondis
He passes on toward Persy /and pi 3 t doim his tentes 2130
Besyd a bur 3 e att the buke/Abandra men callis
Thai falle on frescly/the folke of the cite
And barris bremely at a bu^e/the four brad 3 ates
Than takis the kyng his kni 3 tes/umlapis the wallis
Settes up on asaute/one sidis eno 3 e 2135
Bot for the cite was unsure /the seggis within
Mi 3 t no 3 t the braidis abide / of bemes enarmed
Than cries all to the kyng /sire conquirore thai said
Ne steke we no 3 t oure stiff 3 ates/ 3 our strenthe to defend
Bot for dred of sir Dary/the derfe emperoure 2140
Lest had we helde it to 3 ore hest/he had us eft wastide
3a werpis tham up quoth the wee /and wide open settes
If at 3 e shap 30W to shount / unschent of oure handes
For quen I done have with Dary/and my dede fenyschid
Than salle I tell 30W my tale/how it salle tide efter 2145
So baiste tham the bald kyng /with his breme wordis
That thai unjarked him the 3 atis/and 3 ald him the keys
The bur 3 e thus of Abrandra/he with his men takis
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To take and leve quat him list/and lendis one forthire
Then wyndis he to a wath toune/was Wyothy batten 2150
And come so to Caldipol/ another kid cite
So to the Water of Winter/as it the writte callis
Thare nere was fey for de&ute/enfamyschist his ost
Kni}ts kest up a crie/and kenely tham meves
Loo oure foies ere in fere/fodeles to dye 2155
Thai pleyne more the poverte/and the pite of ther horsis
Than the soroje of tham selfe/by the sevynt parte
Quat ailes jow quoth Alexander /to his athill dukes
Mi barons and my baratorus/the biggest in erthe
That has the angwisch of armes/ay to now suffird 2160
Quethire evire 30 wre hertes I hope /for horsy s abates
May us no 3 t limp if any life/lenge in oire brestes
To covir be cas at a cleke/courseres a thousande
And us domed be the dome /to die of the werde
Than standis in stede no 3 t of a stra/alle the store stedis 2165
Forthi I rede quoth the renke/we ride one forthire
And pas to sum othir place /thare plente is in
That we may fange at the fulle/the fade at us wantes
Than prekis he farth with his princes/to slike a playn wendes
Luctus it hi 3 t the leiterure/and the line thus it callis 2170
Thare his forayouris fand/the faith of vitaille
Bathe to berne and to blonk/bide quen him likid
When he was fulle thare and fedd/he flittes with his ost
To Tergarontes he te 3 e/thare tijt was a mynstre
He pi 3 t doun his pavilion /and passis to the temple 2175
Sire Appoline to adoure/and othir odde goddis
To offir in that oritorie/with honore he wyndis
And sum of tham at to spire/how he spede suld
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Bot sone ane 3 acora him said /a semely summe
Than was nane honoure of answaringes/bot on another bide
Than dose him forth the dere king/and on the day efter
He se3is to the synagog/and sacrife makes
And Appoline als belive/him aykewordly swaris
Sire Ercules the emperoure/he evir in ane callis
Than Alexander alle in ire/angrily spekis
Now fynd I wele quoth the freke/that fids ere thi wordis
Now thou nevyns me a new name/at I nevir hijt
And thou a god quoth the gome /that is grete joye
Than sekis he furth with a somme/and to a cite wyndis
The toun Thebea/the Creces it callis
And thare he biddis alle the burje/that foure bald kni3tes
Suld be lett with him lende/and lenge in his weris
Then tened the Thebees folke/and tynd to the 3atis
And to withstand his strenthe/ste3id to the wallis
Bad him bowe one belyve/and bide thare na laingire
For if he did withouten dome /the deth thai him hi 3 t
Than fangis him up the fell kyng/a fuylle feyned la}ter
Said 3e of Tebet ere tried /the techiest on erth
Of all the seggis undir sonne /that citi3ens hatt
Mast hi3e 3e ere hersid/and herid of 30ure strenthe
And nowe sa 3ape men as 3e/the 3atis hase stoken
And me and the pruddest of my princes /profeme us werre
And at 3e so will iwis/wondir me thinke
For thus wald never at 3e wro3t/the wirschip of armes
It contraries kni3thede/3e knaw wele 3ore selfe
To any wi3t werriours/in wallis tham to close
For he that kid is and kene/and covettes a name
Will fe3t fersely in filde/his famen agayns
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Than Alexander belive/alle aboute the cite
Makes foure thousand /with flanes and bowis
Biddis tham to bend up/brathly with arowis
To wonde the wees within /that on the wallis hovys
And twa thousand be tale /he tdtely comaun dis
Of wele buskid bems/in brenys and platis
Alle the sidis of the cite /that Sechus had biggid
And Amphion an athill kempe/onane to distruye
A fulle thousand he fangid/to fire the foure 3ates
And thre thousand of thra men /to thraw with engynes
Himselfe of slingis and slike/asemblis a menje
To heede and help of his hyne/if any harme lympid
Now ere his seggis alle sett /and the saute nejis
Were wakens betwene/werbilde in trompis
Oure pepill with payns/pressis to without
Halis up hemp cordis /hurled out arowis
Othir athils of armes/albastes bendis
Quirys out quarrels /quappid thu^e mayles
Sum with gunnes of the Grekis/girdis up stanes
To tene the Tebis folke/that on the touris fe3ts
Sum braide on the barrers/in blasand wede
And faire fest on a fire /alle the foure 3atis
All the bur3e at a braide /was on a bale kyndild
And tha that sounde were unslayn/als sottes tham 3eldis
Than without in oure ost/as the buke tellis
A sire at Sicistrus/was callid be name
A meri man a messangere/that maynly was joyd
To se the cite be sa sone/sindide to brandis
Anothir hathill undir hand/ that Hismon was callid
Ane a maistre of musike/a man of the cite
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Aires to sir Alexander/and in his hert wepis
As qua sai prince of our place /sum pete thou have
Than lolds the lord to the lede/said lettrid berne
Quare to feynys thou this fare/for with myn ejen
Sire conquirore quoth the clerke/jour corage to bend
And in ridding of oure riche toun/jore reuth for to call
Than was the wale kyng wrath /and wi3tly comaundis
To bete into the bare erth/alle the bu^e walles
And quen alle kynd was on colis/and kast upon hepis
Than airis he on with his ost/mare honore to wynn
A gentill man fulle joyles/joumais him efter
Folojes thare fare/ai on fote as thai ride
A sege at of the same toun/sire was and maistre
Ane callid was Cletomacus/to crie efter socure
His ledis at left ware alyve/a lite of the cite
Than askid at sir Appoline/al with a steven
If evir it worthe salle to wee /quen the werd stand
Oure bu3e agayne for to bigg/the bretted is to no3t
Than gales thaire god /agayne and thus spekis
The tulke that tilld 30m* toun/ salle tield up and rere
Sail thre times have the thra/of sum threvyne gome
Of were ore of wristillinge/for thus has wird shapene
And quen that wurschip is won /within a wale time
Than salle he sett up himselfe/the cite as befome
Thus answars thame thair old gode/and osses one this wyse
And thai als fayne alle the flote/as fowell of the day
Than aires on sir Alexander /with his athille princes
To the castell of Corynthi/he comes with his ost
With the pers of tha partese/to play on the toures
As alle the sires of tha sidis/himselfe had required
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The multitude ware sa miche/of men for to reken
That thare was sembild and sett /that si3t to behald
Quoth Alexander belyve/to alle at thare stode
Quat gome sail this gamene/ begin apon first
Than comes forth Cletomacus / and to the kyng swans
The tulke out of Thebie/I tald jow befome
If it 30ure mekille majeste/mi3t any thinge plese
I wald to wacken 30ur welthe/now wirstille a twine
Than mas the prince him a place /and prestly him matches
And he him girdes to the grounde/and the gree Wynnes
Now faithely quoth the felle kyng/falle the so thrise
Thou sail be crouned or I caire/for kiddest of the gamen
Than 3ede he to eftsones to /and his even kastis
Thringes to the thrid time/and the thra wynnys
And than comandis him the kyng /a coroune on hede
As for the prise of the play/putfull of stanes
Than bad him beddels belyve/breve us thi name
Sirres by my sothe quoth the segge/Otiles I hi3t
Qui so my worthe werstillare/the wale kyng said
How tidis it the and Toules/thi toname is callide
Mi lovely lorde quoth the lede/and law him declines
Befor 3e come slike a kyng /and the croune werrid
I had a cite myselfe/and seggis inowe
And sethen 3e a3t this enpire/I am it alle prived
Than trowid trewly the kyng /that Theby he menyd
And beddels and bailyfs/he bad on brad crie
Before his pupill apart /the power him grauntes
To sett his cite up agayn/and of himselfe halden
Than passis he to a proude toun/Platea was hatten
Thare was sti3tild ane Stratagems /that was a stiffe prince
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Duse him in with his dukis/to Dyanaas temple
And fand a pure prophetas/aparaild in vailes
And scho as sone as scho him sa3e/said him ther wordes
Welcom we at alle the werd/salle wyn with thi handes
The secund day before the sonn/he at the cite wildide
Into the temple he turned /tythand to herken
Quat ware thi will sire to wete/the woman frayned
Thou lesis all thi lordschip/ within a lite dais
Quat and has thou ossed to Alexander /this ayndain wirdes
And me thus ille unably/ thine abet thou weris
Nay tene 30U no3t for treuly/thus tide bose it nede
And so it worthid for in a wrath/the wale kyng swythe
Him of his principalete prived/and than the prince fondis
Onane to Athenas/and one the athille playntes
And thai said soure suld him sewe/bot he the cite 3eld
And Alexander with his ostes/aires on forthire
Ateynes him toward the termes/and of ther tene heres
And slike a word he thaim waynes/be writ fra himself
And qua so will has to wete/how it worthid efter
Here sail I telle tham at loves/to here forthire
BDerimu# SHlejeantoi.
I Alexander the aire/and eldest childe hattene
Of kyng Philip the fers/that fest am in Grece
And of the quene Olimpades/the oddest under heven
To all 30W of Athenes/thus etill I my sa3es
Fra that my fader was fey/and fame out o lyve
And I was sett in his sege/with septour to regne
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Sethen went I with my werriors/into the west endes
And ay with out any armes/thaim at anys 3olden
Alle Europe to myn enpire/enterely thaim geven
Evyn to the occiane/out of aide Rome
Qua that us rekin ly resayves/na riddoure thai chose
And alle at othir wais wn>3t/we wast thame for evir
And now fra the marche of Messedone/I meved opon late
Thur3e the anglis here of Afle/with myne athille dukis
And so the Thebies tham ti3t/ the toun to defende
And I ther ponpe and thair pride /to poudire declined
To jow now write I on this wise /that wald 3e me send
Ten fyne philosophers /to fend with my wittes
3 oure biu^es ne 3ore bri3t bees/bidd I than nothire
Bot at 3e knaw me for kyng/and call me 3ore lorde
For and 3e nyk now to myn empire /3ore neckes for to bowe
Than bos 30W bigger to be /then alle my bald princes
Or laite anothir ladisman/alosed mare of strenthe
Than I myselfe or my segges/be the sevent dele
Thir athils of Atenes/thir angard clerkis
Than reverenst thai the riche seele/and red over the pistill
Syne kest up a crie/with a kene voice at anys
Sum in comending of his carpe/and on clene it spillid
A filisphur than one first /before the folke risis
Ane Oschilus in erde/and emstly he spekis
The douth and all divinours/bedene he comaundis
That thai suld corde be na cas/unto the kinges hestes
With that alle samen on a sopp/semblis the pupill
A doctore ane Domystyne/thai derely beseke
To consaile thaim als in the cause /and ken tham the best
And he rekenly rase /and rekyns thire wordis
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I beseke 30 W now my citi 3 ens/if that 3 e safe vouche 2355
Bot sobirly a sete quile/my sa3es for to here
Sirs if ye fele 30 W so fers/his force to withstand
Aires agaynes him with armes/admitts no3t his sa3es
And if 3e fynde 3e be to faynt/fiilfillis his will
Unto his mekill majeste/mekely 30W bowe 2360
For Sexes in sum time / surmountid alle kynges
3 it li3t he law at the last/for alle his lethir pride
Bot Alexander with his armee/in alkin rewmys
Has happend 3it ai hedire/to the herre of his faes
Unnombirable ere the notes/to neven of his weres 2365
And 3it betid never the time /that evir tuke he schame
Ware no3t the tulkis out of Tire/ the tidiest on erth
r rhe kiddest kni3tes to acount/undir the cape of heven
Quat bathe for corage and kene/and connyng in armes
Loke quare it profet tham a pease /alle thair proud strenth 2370
Was no3t the Thebes therto/the threest of othir
The worthiest wees of the werd/and of witt clerest
Fra that thair cites ware sett/ the sotelest of weres
Quat servyd alle thar sapienc/or sle3t of batalle
Of Poliponenses the pupill/with this prince fo3tene 2375
And that tham lethirly con like /by the latter ende
For ther the king of thair kythe/was killid doun and heded
His renkis raymed alle the route /and alle the'rewme jolden
Wate 3e no3t wele thui^e alle the werd/how werdes with him cheves
Hase he no3t cites butt saute /sesyd out of noimbre 2380
And for Strasagirs the strange /he of his strenth prived
3 e meve al thus malicoly/his majeste agayn
Thare do 3e no3t 30ure devire/that dare I wele prove
It was the gilt alle of the gome/and no3t of the gud lorde
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Ne had he trispast him to /I take it on my trouthe 2885
Had nevir his cite ne his soile/be sesid fra him nouthire
For the avaunt sir Alexander /is alle the werd famyd
For ane of the curtast kyng/that evir croune werid
And wete the wele at slik a wee /at is wyse haldene
He wald nevire suprise/no sege imder heven
With that all of Atenenys/this auncient maister
And clene alle the clergy /comen sure and othire
This divinore Domestyne/bedene thai comendid
Acordis thaim to his consaile/and kendly it prased
Than amed thai to sir Alexander /onane for to send
A croune alle of clere gold/clustrid with gemmes
Of fifty ponde with the payse/as the prowse tellis
This tresoure tire thai him to /and tribute him hetes
Nowe ere the sandismenne/sett on thaire horsis
A jintill man that jowell/enjoyned was to kepe
That was full sekirly and soft/alle in silke falden
Bot clerkis to the conquirore/caired with thaim many
Than movis furth the messagere/of mylids bot fewe
That thai nere lijt as belyve/at the kynges tentes
Knelid doun befor the kyng/and him the croune rechid 2405
And 3 erely tribute him to geve/ 3 apely him hetes
Than takis the gudman the gifte/and gretly tham thankis
And undirstandes in a stound/how it stude clene
Of the egginge of Eschilus/that ertid his feris
That thai withsitt suld his sa 3 es/and serve no 3 t his pistille 24 10
The dities of Domestiane/so did he bathe
That comaundid and his comandmentes/to kepe in alle wyse
Jit nevire the latter to tha ledis/a letter he foremed
In presidine with his awen prince /reportand tha wordes
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I kyng Philip sone the fers/and his faire ladis 2415
Honoured Olimpades/that I obesche maste
I kepe nevir king to be callid/ne cache me that name
Till alle the barbarine blude/abowe to the Grekis
I etill never Athenes/with armes for to entre
Bot 30wto question enquere/and qwete with my wittes 2420
I purpose ay out of repreve/joure persons to leve
And 3e the countri clene/30ure concience it opence
Bot quilk as first of 30W foundes/a fote us agayne
Sail never devoide my dedeyne/ne my derfe ire
And 3e at wickid ere within /ay wickidly 3e thinke 2425
For as the grayne is in the grape/growis the frutes
The Tebies talked us with tene/atired tham in armes
Jit rad for alle thaire rebelte/resayved thai thaire medis
And for Strafagera the stoute/3e stithli me blamed
Thare as he gilt me agayns/and I him gradid have 2430
I wrate to 30W at me to wayne /be tene wyse clerkes
3e kest out comandmentes/3e knew no3t my strenth
I mi3t acoupe of that cause /if I it kythe wald
Bot I forgeve 30W alle the gilt/and greves me na mare
Forthi bees glad now alle the ginges/3e salle na grefe have 2435
The divinore Domestyne/for 3e his domes held
Fra thai consayved had the clause /and construed the letter
Thai ware the meriest modirsons/on morene mi3t ryse
Now foundis furth the felle kyng /and flittes with his ostes
Lendis him to Lacedoyne/a litille fra the cite 2440
Withoute the bur3e on a bank /he bildes his tentes
And thare himselfe with a some /in a sege lengis
The ledis out of Lacedone/belyve tham asemble
Said bow we never to his bode /for bale apon erth
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Ne lat us never be sa lethire/at we like worthe
To tham of Ateynes/it is oure opyn schame
For thai ware baist of his bost/bredid for no3t
Bot be we knijtly and kene/our corage to schew
With that thai 3arkid to the 3ates/and 3ode to the wallis
Sum in jopons sum in jesserantes/sum joyned all in plates
A grayne of the grete see/thaim aboute glidis
Forthi buskis tham the burgh /at bataill withoute
Preses furth at postemes/into the porte wyndis
Schalkis scott into shipis/alle in shire mailes
Archars with arows/with attrid barbis
Gais tham into galays/and grathis tham befome
Bowes bemes into bargis/with basinettes on hevede
Sparrethis spetous to spend /and speris in handes
Thai crosse over toward the kyng/as kynd men sulde
With as feyle on the flode/as fo3ten within
The lord him lokis on the ledis/and a litill smyles
And sent twa undire his seele/thir sa3es in a pistill
I Philip sonne the felle kyng/as I first sayd
And als of Olimpades/I anely 30W rede
That the end of 30ure eldirs/enterely 3e behald
And roomes no3t at the raynbowe/that reche ye ne may
And the powere of the Persens/so truly 3e traist
Lat se now getes 30W a name /and naytes 30ur stre[n]the
Bot bowis first fra 3our bargis/and blythly thaim wayfe
For fest I alle on a fire /the foly is 30ure awen
Ledis out of Lacedone/quen thai the letter redd
Were drery bot for alle the dole/tha di3t thaim to fi3t
With that the kyng and his kni3tes/umclappis the cite
Settes alle the gailes on gledis/and girdis doun the wallis
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The citejens and seijantes/at uneslayne ware 2475
Bowis tham to this baratore/bodis and lyvys
Je knaw wele quoth the conquirour/my comyng was esye
Bot for 3 e fangid me no 3 t faire/ fired is 30 ur schippis
Jour bui* 3 e is bretind and 30 ur bemes/I bed 30W myselfe
Je suld no 3 t stody ne stem /the stemes for to handille 2480
For he that steppis on a stee/quen the staves failis
Than fautes him festing to his fete /and falle him behoves
So ri 3 t as Sexis was slayne/sum time with 30 ur eldirs
So ettild 3 e sir Alexander /bot thare 30 ure ame failes
Quen he this sa 3 e had tham said /the cite he tham grauntid 2485
Fondis furth with his folke/ther fraunches tham leves
This soverayn with his seggis/thuiye Sycile he wyndes
Tho 3 t to ride and to rayme/the regions of Barbres
Than was sir Darius dred/and sembled derf ostes
His kni 3 tes his consaille/and carpis thire wordis 2490
Said lo my siris now may se/ 3 oreselfe with 3 ore e 3 en
How Alexander in his armes/alleway encreses
In valore and in victori/and vertues so noble
Thare as I thret him as a thefe/thedis to dispoyle
Now werrays he fulle worthily /as wi 3 t man suld 2495
Constreynes with his contenance/kni 3 tes to him bowe
The mare I speke him dispite /and in my speche hindir
The hi 3 er I here him enhansed/and hersude his name
A ball and a hemepan/I to the bame sent
For burde and for bobance/the bab with to play 2500
Him that I counted bot a knave /may now be cald maister
For quare he fondis on fold /dame fortune him folo 3 es
Forthi us have bos in hert/the hele of our pipille
And for na pompe ne na pride /his person dispite
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For his lose for alle his litillaike / is loved thur 3 e the werd 2505
And the mare I myn oure majeste/the mare it abates
The grace of the grete god /I ges wille him help
Of prise the hije provynce/unto this prince leves
Quen we hope althire hijest/to hery him with armes
Than am I redd alle oure rewme/be reft us for evir 2510
Son as sir Dary till his dukis/devysid had thir wordis
Than answars him ane Oriathire/ane of his awen brethire
Thou has this gome out of Grece/so gretly enhaunsed
That we Elanda suld leve/and he this landes entre
Bot wald 3 ore majeste the maners/of this man sewe 2515
3e mijt 30 ure rewme have in ryst/and othir rewmes Wynne
For Alexander alleways/or any of his erles
Naytes himselfe in ilke nede/and so his name rysis
Quat Alle I take of him my temes/tittir than he myne
Sire on my perell quoth a prince he passes all othir 2520
The wee wirkis alle be witt/he worthis the better
Forthi of the lion as I leve/la 3 t is his birthe
Quat knawis thou that quoth the kyng/and then the kni 3 t swaris
Sire I was sent on a sand/my selle on a time
To Philip his fader / to feche oure trouage 2525
Thare had I si 3 t of the segg/his sapienc I herde
Forthi plese it to 3 ore person / 3 oure princes asembles
Of Mede of Mesopotane/the men of Itaile
The pupill of Appolomados/the Panthis folke
And ma that hoves to 3 ore hest/a hundreth and fifti 2530
Lat us gedire thus oure gomes /oure gods will us help
And quen he sesse us sike a sowme/sare wille he drede
3a bot a wolfe quoth a wee /will were many flokkis
And so the grace of the Grekis/ovirgos the Barbers
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Be this sir Philip sonne the fers/of fejtand folk
Had semblid ane unsene sowme/as the buke sais
Twa c. C01. in thede/alle of threven knijtes
Ridis furth in aray/removis his tentes
Unto a water he wendis/as the buke tellis
That with tha marchesman / Mociane was hatten
It was clerir than cristalle/and cole as a chille
Tharein covet oure kyng/his cors for to bathe
With that than wan of his wede/and weschid him alle ovir
Quarethur^e he hent slike a harme/at haterly him greved
This chele efter chaufing/ enchafis so his hernes
That he was fallen in a fevire/or he first wend
Than mourned alle the Messedons/as mervaill ware ellis
Thai sa}e him so to be seke/said ilkane to othir
Be this disese to sir D&rie/and his dukis knawen
He salle us sett on a saute/and surely en[c]ounbre
If thai were sary and so/na selly me thinke
For ay the hele of the hede/helpis all the menbris
Than callis to him the conquirore/a clerke of his awene
Ane Philip his fesisiane/his fare to behald
Of al manere of medecyne man /that maste couthe
A jonge berdles bame/as the buke tellis
Said lat lijtly my lord/for in a litille stonde
Myself with a serop/salle save 30W belyve
Than Permeon the proude/a prince of his ost
That held the erth of Ermonye/and enmyte hadd
Unto this clerke of the kynges/and be no cause els
Bot for the lede was loved/and with the lord cherest hest
Than ames he to sir Alexander /onane slike a pisfiUe
Kepis 30W quoth he conquirore/and caches no 3 t his drenke
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For Darius efter bis deth/his do 3 ter has him hijt 2565
And 30W to sla be som slijt/to sese him his landis
3it was the beme no 3 t a bene/baist of his wordis
He asurid him so sadly /the serep he takis
The licor in his awen loove/the letter in the tothire
And into Philis face /fast he behaldes 2570
He bad him dred nevir a dele /and it drink swyth
And than the pistdHe of the prince /he put him in hand
The leche lokid ovir the lynes/my lording he said
I am no 3 t gilty of this gile/be alle the grete gods
As fast was he fysche-hale / and Philip he callis 2575
Halsis him fulle hertly/and of hb hele thankb
Said wele knew thou my kynd/lufe thi concience
First suppid I of thi serop/syne sesid the the letter
Mi lovely lord be 3 ore level lattes him apere
The tulk at sike a trayne/has touchid to my selfe 2580
Than efter sir Permes hb prince /prestly he sendis
And thare the trechoure was tane/and for his trayne hedid
Than movys he furth with his men /and Medy he wynnys
Entirely to his empire /and Ermonye the mare
Till a dissert than he drafe/was dry and na watere 2585
Thur 3 e Adriac till Eufraten/and ames thare his tentes
And mas a brig ovir the boume/of barges with cheynes
Comandb hb kni 3 ts ovir to caire/and ther thai cachid hertis
Thai sa 3 e the streme so stife/it stonaid tham alle
For ferd the festing suld fade /and thai in the flode droune 2590
Than mas he laddb ovir to lend /and lokars of bestis
And monestes tham ilk modirson/him maynly to telle
3it was hb baratours abaist/and then the beme writhb
Fandis him first on before /and alle fok> 3 es efter
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Than passid thaire out of Paradese/twa proude flumes
Thurje Medy and Messopotane/thai move as I fynd
And so to Babilon thai bowe/ane is the bourne of Tygre
The tothir is Eufrates fulle even /and rynes so to Sylus
Than tutis the kyng into the tablis/and to his kn^tes sais
Lo thof us fall now to flee/we may na ferryr wend
Thare I rede quoth, the kyng/oure bakis never to turne
And if we did withouten dome /to die alle at anes
For he that folowid has ai the floure/and he at fled nevir
Bees h}t and laches 30W alose/it is a lord gamen
For I make a vow at Messedone/we salle na mare see
Till alle the Barbres us bow /than may we blith turne
antimnnig 3HIdcartbri.
Now has sir Dane the derfe/of dukis and princes
Heved up a hoge ost/and five hundreth kni3tes
Ere chosen to chiftans/and chargid thaim to lede
Trottes him to Tigre/and thare his tentes settes
Than mett thai on the othire mome / with a mekill nombre
Sire Alexander the hathille/ armed on blonkis
The multitude ware to me/mervaile to reken
That samed was on aither side /many sadd thousande
Now ere the baners outbred/and the bate ne3is
Blew bemys of bras/buskis togedire
The crie of the clarions /the cloudis it persyd
For the dewt of the dyn/dauncid stedis
Bathe the twa batails/bremely assemblis
And aithire segg with his sowme/so3t unto othire
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Knijtes on cursors /keat than in fewtire
Taches into targetes/ tamed thair brenys
Thare was stomling of stedis/ sticking of erles
Sharpe schudering of schote/schering of mailes
So stalworthy within a stond/sterid thaim the Grekis 2625
That of the barebyne blod/alle the fild flowis
Sone as sir Darie the deth/of his douth sees
The pite of the Persens/him prickis in his saule
Sees his mene 3 e so mynesch / and his men fangid
A few that fresch ware undefoulid/and to the fli}t toumes 2630
Jit was ane of his ost/ane odd man of strenth
A burly beme and a bald /as the buke tellis
A segg at he ensurid had/to sese him his do 3 ter
If he mi 3 t sla with any sle 3 t/the seniour of Grece
He cled him alle in clene stele /a conyschaunce ovire 2635
That made was and merkid/on the Messedone armes
Aires him to sir Alexander /in allthermast puple
As he a hathill ware of his /behind him he stelis
A bri 3 t brynnand brand /he braides out of shethe
And thur 3 e out the helme into the hede/he hurt him a littille 2640
And the kni 3 tes of oure cost/as thai the cas sa 3 e
Than fange thai this ilk freke/and before the kyng brynges
Quat now my worthi werreores/the wale kyng said
He wend wele at he ware/ a wee of his awene
Qui has thou brest so my brayn/and with a brand wondid 2645
Jour sekire servant in same /alle were I sire callid
Alle ware I balden as for hede/ 30 ur helpere at nede
Nay hope 3 e nevire quoth the hathille/sire hi 3 e emperoure
Me any Messedone to be /thou ames of thine awen
Bot of cruelle kind /comen of barbres 2650
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And this I did for sire Darius /his dojter me hijt
And cordid on this condicon/to couple hir to wyfe
And he went out of the werd/to wilde alle his regne
To hew thi hede fra thi hals/and anys it him shewe
Than callis oure kyng him his kni}tes/thaire consaile to frayn
Quat salle be done him for this dede/and thai bedene sware
Sum at he hangid suld be hi}e/sum the hede prived
Sum bedis in a bale fire/brin him to poudire
Quat has he fauted quoth the frek/thof he him forced have
The charges of his chiftan/chefely to fille 2660
He that him demes to the dede/he dampnes himselfe
And dijts him his awen dome /and that dare I prove
For demed I any of my douth/sire Darye to spille
As 3 e this gentille man enjoyne/suld him be jugid thenne
He lates the Persy n in pesse/pas with his hele 2665
Mekill for his mayn strenth/and for his mi 3 t praysed
As sone as Darye the derfe/of this dede heris
That he was savyd unslayne/he semblis his kny 3 tes
Up to a mi 3 ti mountayne/his men thair he schewes
And gessis him wele thare to degrayd/the Grekis maister 2670
Than fandis he fiirth into the fild/and fled als belive
And Alexander with his ost/him asperly folowede
Ri 3 t to the bu 3 e of Batran/and bildid thare his tentes
Mas him glad with his ginge/and to his godis offirs
The cite than he assailed /and sesid on the mome 2675
With alle the binges thare aboute/and busked thare his sete
Thare fand he tresour untald/and als the trew spouse
Of sir Dary bath his dame/and alle his dere childire
Now dose him fra Darius /a dereworth prince
Aires to sir Alexander /adoures him lawe 2680
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I have erdid withjoure enmy/sir emperour he said
As sojet served have I that sire /many sere wynter
And alle my travaill I tint/for tuke I no gudes
Bot wald it now jour worthines/to wend with myselfe
A ten CD1. us take/of tulkis enarmed 2685
I sail 30W hete in 30ur hand/ to have at 30ure will
Sire Dary with the mast dele/of his derfe erles
Nay leve lat ane quoth the lord /then leven the no straungers
That thou be willi in thi witt/to werray thine awen
Ne tell thou me no3t that tale /I trow no3t thi wordis 2690
Be this sire Dary fro his dukes/devysid his pistille
The kyng of kyngs was callid/and clere god bathe
Thus undirstand I was the stile/and stijt in thare estir
3our satrapairs 30ur servaunt/with servand obeschen
Sir we have wayned to 30W writtes/3it write we the same 2695
How this maister of Messedone/has on our marchis entrid
Brynd up oure bigginges/bretted oure kni3tes
And we ovirsett be to sare/to suffir any langire
Forthi 30ur dignite bydene/we drerily beseke
Agayns the force of our faa/us forthir a quile 2700
Quen he had red alle the rawis/for rancore he swellis
And out onane to Alexander /alle thus he writis
I Dary with the dignite /the diademe of Persee
Of alle the kynges the kyng /that corouned was evir
To the my servand I say/as me was sent late 2705
How thi lawnes and thi litillaike/thou lickyns to my hi3t
Bot herde thi providence /impossible it semes
A hevy as to be hovyn /up to the sternes
A thing threvyn is and thike/and tharves the wyngis
And fautes the fethirhames/and the fli3t loomes 2710
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Forthi fchi raynd never the mare/lat mounte into pride
For chance of na chevalry/that thou acheved hase
For vertu ne no victori/ne vant noght thiselfe
He that enhansis him to he 3 e/the heldire he declynes
I have herd of thi hendlaike / of herauds and of othir 2715
Of thi noblay now o newetime/anentes my modir
Bathe to my wyfe and to my barnes/quat bounte thou shewis
Quat curtassy and kindlaike/I ken altogedire
Bot surely alle the seson/that thou tham so plesis
Thou fangis me nevire to thy frynd/fyne quen the likes 2720
And if thou wirke thaim alle the wa/and wrak at thou may
The mare unfiryndschip therfore/fall salle the nevir
Forthi to put tham to pyne/I pray the nojt wande
For myn angir on thine arrogance /salle at the last kindille
Quen he had lokid ovir the lines/he lajes at his wordis 2725
And ditis agayn to sire Dary/this dete that folojes
I Alexander the eldest /and alle myn ane
Of kyng Philip and his fere/that frely lady
Honourd Olimpades/tliat anely me fosterd
‘To the kyng of Persy/this prolouge I write 2730
Sire vanite and vayneglori/and vices of pride
Tha ere the gaudis as I gesse/that all gods hatis
And ilka dedly douth/thai driffe tham to punesch
That has drijten of undedlynes/dra 3 en thaim to name
This similitude to thiselfe /I say alle togedire 2735
That answris so in thi surquintry/and sesis nevir mare
To bost ne to blasfeme/blyn will thou nouthire
Bot for thi gold and thi gudis/a god thou the makis
Thou upbraydis me for the bente/that I thi blod schewid
As to thi modir I mene/and to thi mery childir 2740
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Thare mas thou the to malicole/and meenes for litille
I wro 3 t it nothir for thi will/ne for thi wale threte
If I kid tham curtassy/it come fra myselfe
Haly of oure awen hert/and of our hynd thewis
Ne we prid us for na prouwis/presdestayned we ere 2745
Oure gods gayn us thareto/that gretly thou spises
Latt now this lettre be the last /and loke to thiselfe
For sekire and on my surement/I seke 30 W agayns
This brefe he bedis tham to bere/that bro 3 t him the tothire
And takes thame of his tresoure/and twynnes with thaim faire
Quen thai to Persy ware past /a pistille he enfourmes
Wrate a writt to his will/so sendis to his princes
His servandes and his seneschalls/out of sere rewmes
And thus comandis he tham clene/the kyng his stile
I Alexander that as aire/avaunced is in Grece 2755
The sonn of Philip the fers/as I first tald
And als of Olimpades/myne honoreable modire
Thus send I to my satraparis/my princes and my dukes
My peris out of Siphagoyne/ salutes and grace
Of the sele of Surry/my seggis and myne erles 27GO
My kni 3 tes out of Capados/and alle my kid lordis
The ledis out of Landace/and alle the landis out by
I comand 30 W on the clere faithe/that 3 e my croune a 3 e
That belyve to Alysaundire/that is myn awen cite
That ilkane of 30 w send be 30 urselfe/of sere slayn bestes 2765
Of firesche of fyne wro 3 t/fellis a thousand
Sum grayne to be nethire gloves /graythid to my kni 3 ts
Sum pured pelloure depurid/to put in our wedis
Lat kest tham apon camels /that in that kith lengis
And aires with thaim to Eufraten/this erand haves in mynd 2770
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Than was a man as me mynes/in the mome quile
Was of sir Daris a duke/ the derfe emperoure
Ane that Nostanda was named /and a noble prince
That certified his soverane/ther sajes in a pistill
Sire Dari duke of ilk a douth/and drijten thiselfe
The grete glorius god/graythid in trone
Nostanday to jour nobilnes/that ay my nek bowis
With sem^e to 30ur seinourtie/myselfe I comand
It semed no3t 30ure servand/sir undistreyned
Unto 30ur mekille majeste/this mater to write
Bot I am depely distressid/this dede for to wirke
And made this myscheffe to myne/malegrefe my chekis
For wete it wele 3our worthines / that of our wale princes
Twa of the tethiest ere tint /and termynde of lyve
That lost was now the last day/a litdll fra Tygre
In batail apon bent fild/in bland with the Grekis
Thare was I gird to the grond/and grevously woundid
Unnethe it chevyd me that chance/to chape to the fil3t
And othire many of oure men / m^tfull kni3tes
And erlis of all 30ur empire /enterely devydide
3 oure lore and 30ur legaunce / lethirly forsaken
Aires thaim to sire Alexander /and onane 3eldis
And he thaim faire undirfange/enfeffid thaim belyve
In palais in province /in principall regnes
Then to Nostanda one next/thus notes he a letter
That he suld semple him a sowme/and set thaim agaynes
Anothire pistell lete he pas /to Porrus of Ynde
To come and helpe with his here /and he him thus swaris
I Porrus that possessid am /the partyse of Ynde
And am the corone be kynd/of clene alle that iles
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Sir Dary with thi dyademe/drest on thi trone
To the that salutes I send /the sele of myn armes
Thou prays unto my person /my power to sempble
And jow enforce with my folke/30ur faes to withstand
And I am boun at 30ur bode/and buxom was evire
To he3e and to help 30ur hest/quen I my hele lastis
Bot now a langour me lettes/that I la3t have
Slike a seknes forsothe/is on myselfe haiden
That I ne may streyne me ne stere/for stondis so hard
Bot lyse in langwysches and lokis/quen my lyfe endis
And as warysche I my warke/that I am in wonden
As me is wa for thi w03e/and thi wrange bathe
I may no3t ryde 30W to reschow/my reuthe is the mare
Bot I salle leve and be lechid/forthi be li3t liertid
And I be covird of my coth/care for na Grekis
Amay the for na Messedoynes/ne men undir heven
For I salle hele alle in hast/and hale to 30ure kythis
With ten legions at the last /and alle of lele kni3tes
Be this Rodogars the riche /that renomed lady
The dere dame of Dari /of this dede heris
That hir awen child with Alexander /amed eft to fe3t
And sorowis selcuthly sare/and sendes him a pistill
To kyng Dary the derfe/the derrest of my childire
Rodogoras the riche quene/this rauth scho him writes
Bald baratour on bent /borne of my bosom
Here send I the my swete/salutes and joy
Thou has hevyd up thi huge ost/as I have herd telle
Samed alle thi saudiours/and semblid thi pupille
And etils to sir Alexander/eft to assaille
Wete thou wele it is no3t worthe/ware the be tyme
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For had thou gedir alle the gomes / 1 gesse of the werd
Jit to withstand him a stonde/thi strenthe ware to litille
For Godis providence apart /ay prestly him helpis
Savys and sustenes himselfe/and socurs him evir
Forthi hoo with thi hautes/and thine unhemed wittes
Availe of thi vanite/and of thi vayne pride
Obey the to the baratour/the best I con rede
Magnifie him with thi mouthe/and meke thi hert
For any hathille undir heven/that at he ne hade may
Mare sekire it ware him to forsake /then sewe any forthir
In pese and in pacience/possede at he mi3tes
Be excludit out of his erd/and evir mare duelle
Quen he this rawis had rede/he rewfully wepid
His eldirs and his ancestris/als he remembris
Thojt how pride thaim deprived /and here a passe ende
jDuoDetmuitf 3Cleranbri.
Then aires him on sire Alexander/furth with his princes
To the citeward of Susys/himselfe he aproches
Tharein sir Darius duellid/with his derfe ostis
So ne3e he come to tha cliffis/he kend ovir the cite
With that comaunds he kni3tes/to cutt doune belyve
Bowis of buskis and of braunches/of bolis and of lindes
And bynde to thaire horse feete/of bobis of herbis
Bath to meeris and to mulis/and alle manner of bestes
The popille out of Persy /that slike a pake sa3e
Beheld on he to the hillis/and heterly was stroubid
Thai ware so woundird of that werke/and weterly it semed
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As alle the gronde and the grenes/had glide thaim agayns
So ne}e the cite he so 3 t/and sett up his tentes
That thre days to that thede/him tharve and na mare
Said let ane dryve to Dary/and bede him dryffe sone 2860
Or put him to my power /and plede we na langire
The same nijt in his slepe/him sodanly aperid
Amone his awen god /in aungls wyse
In a mery mantill/of mervailous hewis
Mevand as a Messedone/in Marcure fourme 2865
Said unto Susys my son/na sandisman thou send
Bot fange my figoure to the fast/and fend forth thi selfe
Clethe the with my conyschaunce/and for na care drede
I hete the haly my help/na harme sail thou suffire
Than slade he sli 3 ly away /and he fra slepe ryse 2870
A breme blasand blis/in his brist rysys
He knew his knijtes that cas/and thai him clene redd
That he suld graythe him to ga/as him his god chargis
Than callis to him this conquirore/ane of his kid prince
Emynelaus that his erlis/and his ost ledes 2875
Hend and hardy of his hand/ a huge man of strenthe
And thareto lede lelist to his lord/levand of lyve
He bad him boun him belyve/and on a blonk worth
Anothire foole with him fange /and founde with himselfe
Strad up himselfe on a stede/in starand wedis 2880
And on a cursoure the kni 3 t/on with a colt folo 3 es
To the grete flode of Grantone/togedire thai ride
Thai fend it forsen thaim before /a fote thike yse
That is the streme of Sturma/with many stods clepid
And 3 it the pure propure name /in Percynne tonge 2885
Than Alexander belyve/his wedes he changis
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This renke with his ronsees/he ridis ovir and levys
A lat me lend with 30 w lord /the lede him besekis
For drede that angire or aventour/ or any slike falle
Nay hove thou here quoth the kyng/unto my hamecome 2890
He that I saw in my slepe/sall be my sekire helpe
With that he braides on the blonke/and brochis him in the syd
Bowis him toward the bmye/as brijt as ane aungelle r
This revere at I first rede /be rewle of his kynde
As wele in seson of somere/as in the sad wintre 2895
And that is never bot on nijt/so naytely it fresys
Till any power to pas /or preke on with stedis
Jit has the floume as I fynd/a forelange obrede
And evire ilke momyng it meltes/for mi}t of the sonn
With slike a reryd than it remes/the romance it witnes 2900
That qua so tuke it in that tyme/tint ware for evir
Be this enproched him oure prince /unto the proude cite
Band his blonke at a barrere/ without the buiye 3 ates
The Persyns of his passag/was passyngly wondird
And gesses him to be gode/for glori of his wedis 2905
Quat donesman thou ert quoth Dary/and drafe him agayne
Sir Alexander quoth this athill/has alle thus me sent
Bedis buske the to batell/quat bade makes thou here
Outhire 3 are the 3 apely therto/or till his 3 okke bowe
Qwethire than be he quoth the hathill/so hately thou spekis 2910
Thou melis no 3 t as a minister /a messangere bowis
Thou carpis evyn as a kyng/that closed ware in pride
Bot I am dred nevir a dele /of alle thi bald sa 3 es
Bot for thi soverayne sake /that sent the thus hedir
3it sail thou sit with myselfe/and soupe or thou wynde 2915
He ra 3 t him than be the arme/and reverence him makes
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And to his palais apart /with princes him ledis
Thaire aires him in sir Alexander/and alle thus he thinkes
This ilke barbryn berne/grete bente me schewys
That here thus hyndly be the hand /ledis to his innes 2920
This hame with help of my god /I have sail he[r]efter
So silis he forth with the sire/into a somere halle
Thare sesonde was a soper /the sotelast undire heven
Sire Darius drawis to the dese/and other dere princes
Settes this sire with himselfe/lete serve thaim togedire 2925
That bild was all of brynt gold /as the buke tellis
With the bath the bordis and the benkes/beten of that ilke
The wesselle to vyse on/was verraly the same
And alle the sale of a sute/set foil of stanes
The popille of Persy /apon this prince waitis 2930
The litillaike of his like/lathely that thai spyse
Bot the wisedome and the worthenes/and of the wale thewis
That in that cors was enclosed /kend thai fulle litill
Butlers fulle besely/bro 3 t up the wyne
In grete goblettes of golde/graythid folle of jymmes 2935
And Alexander belyve/as he had ay dronkene
With that he clekis up the coupe /and puttes in his bosom
Anothire boll was him bro 3 t/and bathe he devoydid
And 3 ethe threw to the third/and thrast in thare efter
Sone as the dientes that knew /at of the coupe served 2940
Thai knele doun before the kynge/and him the cas tald
Than has sire Dary dedeyne/and derfely he lokes
Rysys him up renysche/and re 3 t in his sete
Quat fans thou with quoth he frynde/a fone the besemes
Quy voydis thou my veselle/it is a vile schame 2945
Sire it is the custum quoth the kni 3 t/in oure kynges fest
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That be it ane be it othir/that thai of drinke
The gestis sail have the goblettes/and thaim gud thenke
To wild and wende with away /and wirke quat thaim likes
Bot sen this use is here unhonoureable/here I thaim leve
Bradis thaim forth withouten bade/the butlers thaim yeldes
Now sothely quoth than ilk a segge/ softly togedire
This maner at he melis of/is menskefolle and noble
Than was thare ane proude pere/a prince at the table
Anepo that on Alexander /alle way behaldis
Than mynes him anes in Messedone/he had the man sene
Quen he was sent to his syre/to feche thaire trouage
His vertuse and his vysage/his voise he remembris
His forme and his fetoure/his figoure avysis
He studis and he stuynes/he stemes within
Is this no3t Philip sonn the firs/ the fedare of Grece
With that he sle3ly up sojt/and his sete levys
Droje him evyn to sire Dary/thare he on dese bydis
Said surely sire this sandisman/that sittes 30W befome
Is Alexander him awen self/ or alle myn ame faillis
Sone this govemore of Grece /is of this gaude ware
He torkans with and undirtuke/he touched of himselfe
Herd a nyngkiling of his name/and naytes him to ryse
Buskis him up at a braide/and fra the burde rysis
He tas a torche fira a tulke/that by the table standis
Felly fangis it in his fist/and to his foie wyndis
Fyndis him faire him before /thare he him feste hade
Ra3t him radly the reyne/and one his rige worthis
With that he brochis his blonke/that the blode fames
Spans out spacly/as sparke out of gledis
Be the l\}t at he led/laches he the way
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And fand fast to the flijt/with a fers will
The pepille of the palais /quen thai his passe sa 3 e
Rusches up in a res/rynnes into chambres
Sum araies thaim in ringes/and sum in row brevys 2980
With hard hattes on thaire hedis/hied to thaire horsis
Prekis efter the prince /prestly enarmed
Bot now was ni}t on tham ne 3 ed/that noyd thaim sare
Sone ware thai willid fra the way/the wod was so thik
Sum on bujes and on brerys/blemysched the face 2985
Sum ware dreven doun in dikes/sum in depe myrys
Bot Alexander at myn ame/ thaire & 3 e is aschapid
Ay trottes him to the trodgate/as him the torche wyssis
Sir Dary as a drery man/duellis at hame
With princes in his palais /alle pense he sittes 2990
The baldnes of this baratoure/he besyly remembris
That skapid so sone skatheles/fra alle his schathill dukes
Than was an ymage within /as I am enforemede
Of Sexers that sum quile/that cite had to welde
Forgid alle of fyne gold /and fettilde his seete 2995
Undir the soverayne sege/thare sett ere the lawis
And sodanly that semylacre/as tellis the textis
It all to paschis into peces/and to poudire dryvys
Than was the wale kyng waa/and wepand he said
This betakens trombling of my tild/and tene of my regne 3000
And Alexander alle that quile/asperly rydis
To the grete flode of Granton/and it one a glace fyndis
Or he was so 3 t to the side/ 3 it sondird the qweryns
His hors it hunyschist for evir/and he with hard schapid
Than aires he with Emycielows/even to his princes 3005
And derfely on the tother day /a douth he assembles
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Twa hundreth thousand on a throme / all of threven knijtes
Cains him to a cliffe/and comfurthis his hostes
Sail never the Persyns pake/be pere to the Grekis
And if thai ma ware be many/mayes nojt jour hertes 3010
Full many flees may felle/bot a fewe waspis
And all the company clene/comendid his wittes
€etttu0tecimu0 3llte]eantiri.
Be this sir Dary wast dijt/whit his dere erles
Hevyd up a huge ost/and hast him to ryde
His ging and alle his garysons/in glyssynand wedis 3015
Gaes him on to Granton/and graithes thare his tentes
His stoure was so stalworthe and store /and strange to abyde
He had of men out of mynde/many mayne hundreth
That sike a sijt and a sowme/of seggis enarmed
Was never sene I suppose /sen the sege of Troy 3020
The chiftayne had chariotes/ chosen for the nanes
Ten thousand be tale/tried for the were
And thai ware sett athire side/fulle of sythe bladis
Kene kervand as knyfes/and cursers tham drewe
The next day be the none /new note ryses 3025
Aithire freke with his folke/in the fild metes
And bald bemes on bent/banars unfaldis
Put pennons on pollis/paintid of silver
Alexander as belyve/is armed up clene 3030
Bonnes him to his blonke/the best undire hevene
That was the blonk Bucifale/as the buke tellis
A foole worth fyfty of the firste/that in the flode drounede
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He spynnes him out a grete space/fra his peris alle
Covers him full clenly/and closed in his gere
The power out of Persy /quen thay the prince saje
Frayed was of his forme /so ferdfulle him semede
Now ere the batails bonne /with braggins in trumpis
The breme bemen blaste/beres to the welken
Alexander allethire first /on thaim alle he settes
And aithire ward at a wapp/wijtly injoynes
Archirs and alle men/asperly fijtes
Thare was justing ojoy/jopous atamed
Siles doun on aithire side/selcuth knijtes
Sum darid sum dede/sum depe wondid
So felle fli3t was of flanys/as I fynd wreten
Of arrowis and of alle quat/that alle the aire blindid
Hogere on to behald/than of haile stanes
And alle the fild fulle of folke/fyve mile large
Als sone as the son up so3t/the sla3tere begynnes
And so to the sonnesett/slakid thai nevir
Be that the barbryne blode/ began to discende
The proudest of the Persyns/past out of lyve
Sone as sir Dary it devysid/and se3is his foke faile
With that he bedis tham the bake /and bidis na langer
Then quen thai fange to 3e fli3t/was furth in with evyn
And mirke out of mesure/na man thaim apered
Forthi the chariotes in the chace/choppid thaim to deth
The cartes that I carpid of/ with the kene sythis
Thare fell as fele tham before /of fotemen and othire
As risoms in a ranke fild /quen riders it spillen
Sire Dary dryve in the derke/and his douth folows
Gaes him on to Grantun/unto the grete bume
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Fand it frosen him before /as fell for the time
Past him on with his pers/a pake out of nombre
His folke fellis alle the flode/a forelange o brede
The streme fira the a strande/stre3t to that othire
Sone fira himself was at the side /it wonders behind
And alle at lent ware on loft/loste ther the swete
Thus many deed that day /as the buke tellis
Of pollis out of Persye/withouten the Grekis
Thre hundreth COl. thra men /that thrarved thaire lyves
With the fooles and the folke /that the flode drouned
This seiniore out of Susys/to his cite wendis
Fallis doun on his face /flat in the sale
War is me quoth he wriche/wa is me unhappy
Sijis selcuthely sare/and sadly he wepis
I that was street to the stemes/am streken now to grand
Now cratone now caitefe/now am I kast undir
That had of the orient alle ovir/ homage umqwile
Wist any we quat him suld worth /this werld wald he leve
Full sympill in a sete qwile/seke to the cloudes
And thai at mast ere of mijt/smyten alle to poudire
With that reufully he rase /and renkes out he sendis
To Alexander belyve/and alle slike a pistill
I drery kynge on my dese/ Darius of Persy
To Alexander that aire/that alle has to wilde
The lege lord of my lyfe/to lose or to save
Thus send I to my soverayne/ salutes and joy
So wyde is the wisdom /that wonnes in 30ur saule
That wele 3e wate of alle men/at I worthed here before
Of alle the notes that ere now/ and quat on next sewes
Forthi 3our werke ay be witt/3e wirke unrepraved
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Sir I knawlage me a creatour/and come of a woman
Heves nojt jour hert up to hije/take hede to jour end
It limps nojt alleway the last /to licken with the first
Quat suld a knijt mare to kepe/bot conquire his ennemy
Was nojt Sexes himselfe/the sovereynest in erth
And cheved him of chevalry/chekis out of nombre
Jit for his will out of worde/was wonne into pride
In the lede here of Elanda/litherly he feyned
Thinke that allanely of God /this ovirlaike thou haves
Forthi have mercy on thi men/thi methe we beseke
Als of joure grete gudnes/to grant us oure modire
Oure bride oure bames out of bande/for besandis enoje
For all the feete at oure fadirs/in the folde hade
In Battri and in this bild/the buiye of Elanda
The maistri and the majeste/of Mede and of Persy
With alle the jolyte and or joy /that Jubiter us leves
The seggis at fra Susses /was sent with the pistell
Aires to sir Alexander /onone hit him reches
And he dos on before his ost/ openly to rede
And alle his knijts for the carpe/ware kenely rejoysed
Then was ane Permeon a pere/a prince of his oste
Enclynes him doun to the kyng/said kid emperoure
Resayve this risches I rede/that 30W this renke bedis
And lyvers him his ladis/and alle his lele childire
Than Alexander belyve/tha hathels he callis
The beme at boiyt him the brefe/said bowis to jour lord
And say me wondirs iwisse/if he it wete wald.
For any Mede apon mold/ his meneyhe to lyvire
If he be fallen undire fote/and his folke streyned
And vencust of our violence /quat vailes him his hestes
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His person and bis provynce/he put it in my wille
And 3 eld him undir my joke/than jeme I na mare 3125
And if grant him no)t degrayd/bot for the gre threpis
Bid buske him eft to the bent/us bataille to 3 eld
Thus monest he the messangers/thaire maister to say
Gevys tham giftes fulle gude/and lete tham ga swyth
And than comands he his kni 3 ts/the corses up to gedir 3130
Of alle the douth at was dede/and di 3 t tham in graves
And at wondid was iwis/as the writt tellis
To serche thaire salvys and ther saris /with surgens noble
At the grete flode of Grantone/now gray this he his tentes
Honoured thare his aid gods/and offirs tham nouches 3135
Thare fend he palais up pi 3 t/and many proud hames
Sumquile of Sexes ware sett /the sire of the landis
Tha bildis he bedis tham to bryn/sone of his bone rewis
And bad na beren be sa bald /a brand for to kyndill
Thare was a brade bent fild/was beried fulle of kni 3 tes 3140
Of aid peris out of Persy /prince and dukes
The Messedones in the mold/mynes to the graves
Fand coupis all of clene gold /and costious stanes
The sepulture of a sire /that of Surre was kyng
Him was the name Ninus/was in a noke fonden 3145
Was of ane athill amatist/and alle within graven
Plantid full of palmetres/and many proud fowles
And slike a clerete it kest/thu 3 e kynd of itselfe
Thai mi 3 t have kend without the kist/the corps alle togedire
Thare was a tenefulle toure/and tulkis inclosid 3150
Sum ware the handis of hewen/and sum wondid ho 3 es
Sum the e 3 en sum the eres/and egirly cries
On Alexander efter help /and he tham all livers
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He wepis on tham for wa/said wa is me my childire
And ilkane of his talentes/he takes ten thousand
Thus ware thai dijt of sire Dary/for he dedeyne hade
That thai ware comen doun of kynges/and be no cause ellis
Be now the douth of sire Daris/the derfe messangere
Fra Alexander agayn/his answare him brojt
And he than girdis out to Grece/eft graythis him to fyjt
To the honoryd here out of Ynde/thus ordans a pistill
That the sceptoure and the soile/sesid am of Persy
To Porrus undir my present /plesance and joy
First wrate I to 30ur worthines/3it write I the same
To help us at thire hathille men /that have wald my regne
And be 3e sure the same way /is to 3oureself ettild
For he that werrais us with /the wildare of Grece
Is wrawid and wrathfulle of will /and wode as a lyon
And if I saude men and sammen/seggis out of nombre
And cokke with the conquirour/till I be cald drepid
3 it me is better on the bent /in bataile be slayne
Than se the lose of my ledis/and ay leve in sorowe
Forthi 30ure lordschip as lege man /I lawly beseke
As I that am in angwisch/myne askyng to fille
Ten schilling of my trew gold /a man that is armed
And five to a fote man/ faith ely I hete
3 it sail I ordane to 30ur ane/quare evire oure ost liggis
A ix. score of new geere/of nurtirid maydens
Bucifalon the bald stede/salle bathe be oure awen
And the armes of Alexander /and alle the pilage
Now flees ther fra the fell kyng/ a fone of his kni3tes
To Alexander belive/and alle thus him tald
How that sir Dary with his dukis/eft drissis him to fi3t
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Had prayd efter power /to Porrus of Ynde
Than ordans him this honorable /with his ost flites 3185
Agayn the Persyns king /him ordans to ride
For the name of ane emperoure/ne wald he nevir fange
Or then that soverayne ware slayne/or 3 ild him his regne
Sone as the kyng of that kith /of his come herys
Than was he ferly afr^t/and his folke bathe 3190
Than kest tham twa of his knijtes/him causeles to spille
Thai trowid than of Alexander /to adille thaim a mede
Thire traitours on this trechoure/trowthis has strakid
Lendis thaim on loft to the lorde/la 3 t out swerdis
Quat sail I dre 3 e quoth sire Dary/my dereworth childire 3195
First cald I 30W my clyentes/that I call lordis
Semes 30W no 3 t it suffice /my sorowe without
That as a bitand brand /me brettens within
And slaa je me thus sudanly/the seinour of Grece
3e will me wreke on 3 oure werke/wers than of thefes 3200
Thair mevyd thai him na mercy /bot maynly him woundid
That doun he hildis aUtohewyn/thaire handes betwene
Than dryfes furth the dones men /and halfe dede him levys
Famand out of fresche blod/and here a fut ends
<©uartufifomrnug 3iferanbri.
Quen Alexander of his athill/this aunter had herd 3205
How he was di 3 t of his douth/and to the dede woundid
He stre 3 t him to Sturma/and ovire the streme ridis
So 3 t him in Sussys/himselfe with his ost
The pepill out of Persy /quen thai our prince see
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Than 3 ode thai furthe and unjarkid/the 3 ates of the cite 3210
Resayves him full rially/with reverence and joy
Said welcum be thou werriore/that alle the erd loutes
Sone as ther weried wi 3 tes/was ware of hes come
That slo 3 e so thaire soverayne/that nevir sake hadd
Thai he 3 e thaim to holes and hymes/and hydis thaim belyve 3215
Tho 3 t or thai wist of his will /thai wald no 3 t apere
Than gase he up be degrece/the Grecen maister
Passis into the palais /a paradyce semed
Was on the make of that mote/no 3 t mervalled a litille
That compast was of Cusys/that kynge was of Persy 3220
The flore undire the fote/fynely was paved
Coverd alle of cristall/and othire clere stanes
3it ware the wawes of the wanes /wro 3 t as I rede
Polischid alle of pure gold /and of plate werkes
And that was streken fulle of sternys/and of sere gemmys 3225
With bri 3 t blasynand bees /as bemes of the sonn
The hathille hedis up on he 3 e/and hogely he wondirs
That evir suld emperoure in erth/slike ane herde wild
Quen he had ferlyd his fill/apon that faire hame
Thur 3 eout the sale than he so 3 t/into the selfe chambre 2230
Thare quare the lord in lay /with laythely woundis
Girdid out as gutars/in grete gille stremes
Jit was thare lyfe in his like/litill if it semed
At ilk blast of his breth/the blode fra him glidis
Sire Alexander him avysis/and authly him thinkes 3235
The pure pete of his payne /persid his hert
Than nymes he fra his awyn neke/an emperours mantille
And that he covirs ovir the kyng/and ciaspis him in armes
With grym gretyng and gro/and grysely terys
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Bad comfurth the sire conquirour/and of thi care ryse 3240
Don ajayne the dignite/the diademe of Pers
And alle the rijts of thi rewme/resayve as before
My pure powarfiill gods /I prestly pavoure
Thine empire and thine erytage/enterely the to yeld
Suld never na gome be to glade /thofe he grete ware 3245
Of his nejbour noy/enentes himselfe
Quen fortune foundis him fra/ and him the fete schewis
And alle the welth him atwendis/and the werd changis
Bringe furth thi banes and with my brand /I salle the dede venge
This sa 3 e sobband he said /and the segge wakyns 3250
Hyndely hildis him up /and his hand kyssis
The brest and the bare necke/and breves thire wordis
A Alexander athille faie/and angrily granys
The depe distruccon of 3 our dome /has many day been knawyn
That alle the welth of the werld/worthis at the last 3255
To caryayne and corupcon/clene alletogedir
The wames of thi wale god /that wist alle before
And fully feld alle the fare/that falle suld on erthe
On this maner made he man/thui* 3 e his mi 3 t first
Suld no 3 t be foun in him fast/ne ferme ne stable 3260
Bot hovande here a handqwile/and hing and in payse
Now in levelle now on loft /now on lawe undire
All werdly thing iwis/thur 3 e the wille of oure lord
Into the contrare clene/is at a clampe turned
For had he wor 3 t ay to wees /welth and na nothir 3265
So grete had bene vayne glorie/glotony and pride
Suld nane have gessid that grace /come of God bot of thaim selfe
So fra the makar o mold /suld many man have erryd
So feyle had bene the firelettes/folo 3 and oure kynd
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We had bene drawen alle bedene/into disspaire clene 3270
And of the godness of God/ 003 1 a grew traisted
Forthi he wald of his wille/werke to be changand
That quen a hathilUware ovire hije/in happ and in welthe
That he knew nojt his creatoure/ bicause of his pride
In to the dike of debounte/droune bud him nede 3275
This was his will at it worthid/wene thou nan othir
The gome his god at forgatt/for any grace here
His welth to wite alle away/and wickidnes apere
To ken the caytefe to knaw/qua caused him on first
The same ensampill of myselfe/now is betid thou sees 3280
So grete I grew of my gods/and gold in my cofirs
That kindly gods creatoure /I kend nojt myselfe
Bot for his feloje and his fere/faithly me leved
Thus prosperite and pride /so purely me blyndid
I couthe nojt se fira my sege/to the soile undire 3285
That at me failed than to fynd/fast at rayne e 3 en
Be the mirrour now of meknes/I may a myle knawe
If any hathill be so hard /with unhapp woundid
So at he hopis him no heipe/of the heje fadire
Than liftes oure lord him on loft/his langour he breggis 3290
Inhanses him in handquile/and heves him to welthis
So heje that he for unhele/se 3 es no 3 t his dri 3 ten
Lat than him knaw his creatour/in kindling of joy
That he that lawene has a lede/may lyst if him thinke
And he that bringes him on loft/breten all to poudir 3295
Thi saule sonne into surquitery/lat seke nevir the h^hare
For gre the grauntes ere of god/and no 3 t of thi grete strenthis
If all the limp as the list/loke to thine ende
For die the bose quen all is done/and ay thi day scortes
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Me think me my lyfe as to the len 3 th/is like to this werkes 3300
That this coppis opon kelle wyse/knytt in the wojes
With the lest winde of the werd/that the werd touches
The note anents ilk ane/and all to no 3 t worthis
Lo so the quele of qwistsumnes/my qualite has changid
I that was 3 ustirday so 3 ape/and 3 emed alle the werld 3305
To day am dreven all to dust /to dolour and paynes
Has no 3 t o maistri so meche/as mi 3 t of myselfe
My dere sonn quoth Darius /it drawes nere the tyme
My banes on my benyson/bery with thi hand
With the proved princes out of Pers/and with the proude Grekes
And the maisterlings of Messedoyne/ 3 e me to mold bring
Lat than oure kyngdomes acorde/and cock we na lange
Bot ay perpetual pes/oure party s betwene
Unto 30 ure mekill majeste/my modire I comande
Rodogarus the rialle/and rewis on my bride 3315
My do 3 ter Rosan the riche /resayves to 30 ur spowse
It comys wele of hi 3 e kyn/kynges to descend
Tak tent to that at I tell /be tendire of my kn^tes
And with this speke at he spake /the sprete he 3 eldis
Than was his body enbawmed/and as he bede graven 3320
This bald baratoure him bare /and as a bame gretes
So did the pepill out of Persy /bot for his pite mare
Than for the dethe of Dary/be dowble of the twa
And Alexander belyve/as he was enterid
He meves agayn to the mote /and on the mome efter 3325
Up to the soverayne sege/with septoure he wyndis
That Cusus the conquirore/of clere gold maked
The mody men of Messedone/the maisters of Persy
Than put tham into presens/as the prose tellis
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Sir Darius awen dyademe/thai did on his hede
A coron ane the costious/that ever kyng weryd
On the propurest of projecte/that evir prince here
The massy werke was the menest/made of the noble
The pride therof for to prove /it pyned any Cristene
It gave so glorious a gleme/of gold and of stanes
That as the loge for the lijt/lemed as of hevene
The sete thare himselfe satte/in soyte with the croune
That was lift apon loft/on othir litill segis
Seven cubet of clere gold /was countid the hijt
And vij. degrece was ther grayd/for gate up of kinges
And thai ware jentilly joyned/in a joyly wyse
The first an athil amatast/as I am infourmed
And of a smeth maragadan / smyten was the tother
The thrid of a topas atyred/and trelest and graven
The ferd degre a granate/a gracious gemme
The fyfte was of ane adomant/altogedir makid
The next of gleterand gold/gayle was forgid
The ovirmast alle of the erth/ without othire werkes
Apon this wyse ware thai grayd/and for grete cause
The first was of an amatist/that all thaye demes
Riche said the romance /and ronkenes of wynes
Latts na dronkynnes thaim dere/that douth at it beris
The same wyse mon a wee /waite to himselfe
A knijt at covettes to clym/to kyngs astate
Him bus have wames him with /of wit and of mynd
That he wirke nojt on the wethir halfe/for wathe apon erth
The scunde was of smaragdone/that ay the si3t kepis
Quat berne as beris it him on/it br^tens his e3en
So bus a kyng to consaile/have a clere hert
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To se at syttes him to see/and sagely to wirke
The thrid was a topas I trow/at to the trone lengis
That is so clere of his kind /the clause me recordis
That quasumevir in that ilk /his ymage behaldes
The face is to the foldward/the fete to the firment
So comes it wele for a kyng/to knaw till his end
How ay the top to the taa/is turned at the last
Quen fortune festis him /he fendis belive
And alle his dignite bedene/ drives into poudire
The ferd was a granate I gesse/goules althire fynest
Is nane so redy as I rede/of all the riche stanes
Slike color aje a kyng wele /in conyschance to here
That he schape to na schavadry/that schend suld his fame
The fift was all of adamant/as the buke tellis
That is he that is so hard /that hurt may nane tole
Is nothire stele ne na stane/so stife it may perce
And growis out of the grete see /in graynes and in cragis
If any nave to it neje/that naylid is with iryn
Then clevys it ay to the clife/carryg and othire
Bot blode of body sais the buke /bees it nevire percid
Or the natoure of anothire thing /that nedis nojt to rekene
That same kynd suld a kyng /of his craft use
So stable and so stedfast/to stand in his werkes
That for na prayer ne pres/ne plesaunce on erthe
Out of the rake of rijtwysnes/renne suld he nevire
The sext was of gold /graciously hewen
Of alle metals o mold/the maister and the syre
The same cure is a kyng/be kind of his leggis
To gy and goveme his gomes/the grettest he is makid
The sevynt up to the sege/was of the selfe erth
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That is na mare for to mene/as me my mynd tellis 3390
Bot ilka kyng suld him knaw/cried of the soile
And to the same sustenance /sodanly to worthe
Thus sete oure syre in his sete/with septoure in hand
In pelore and in pall/and proud men him by
Than lete he iettres belyve/with ledis out to send 3395
Thur)e alle the provynce of Pers/promicid this werdes
The kyng withouten compere / of kyngis alle othire
Of alle the lordis now the lord /that lefis apon erth
Sire Alexander athill sonne /of Amone his dri}ten
And als of Olimpades/anyly consayved 3400
To the soverayns and the senescalls/the sires and the maistris
And all the pers out of Persy/princes and dukes
The justis and the gentils/and jugemen of lawe
Bathe cit^ens and seijant/ salutes of grace
Syn it lokid has the largenes/of the lord of heven 3405
That me this diademe of Dary/demed is and graunted
And to be here thus enhansid/in his hije trone
3e sail be glad of my degre/and gretly rejoyd
And ordans aiquare ovir alle /honorable princes
Governors and gardens/of alle the grete burjes 3410
As was in Darius days/to deme men the rijt
And clene alle the clientes/to kepe thaire demayndes
Ilka pepill his possession /in pes mo3t he browcke
Armoure and actons/ther latt all that be kepis
Caires tham to castells/and in kinge houses 3415
And none so bald ere I bide/ to bere tham na mare
And fra this marche to Messedone/quils I am maister here
The passage in aithir part/salle playn be and open
The comers out of aithire coste/to cadre undistrobbed
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With message and marchandise/and almanir of nedis
Now is his pistils all past /and pese he comandis
Quilke of my fryndis ere the folke/that my faa sloje
That was the drepars of Dary/now doo tham apere
That thai may weld for this werke/wirschip to mede
My mekill m^tfull gods /I maynly 30 we swere
And on the lay at I leve/and be my lufed modir
The worthe wage thai wayne /that thai have wele served
Than all the pepill out of Persy /pouret out to wepe
Bathe Besane and Anabras/as the buke tellis
That ware the banes of his body /baldly tham shawis
Said we tohewid him oure handis/hije emperoure
Thai wend weie thaim to wynn/a waryson for evir
Than bad he bemes thaim to bynd/and bringe thaim belyve
Unto the gudmans grave /and hewe of thaire hedis
Allas my lord quoth tha ledis/and }e so late sware
To 30ur worthi gods 3our wale dame /we suld no waa suffire
Siris as 3e worthi ware iwisse/I wate wele I hi3t
And bot 30ur harmes ware unhid /I held no3t myne athis
For sen I wan into the werld/my witt has bene aye
Quen treid was a trechory/the tulkis to be hedid
Than he did thaim to deth/as dri3ten him praysed
The province pi3t is in pes/and princes ere maked
And aid derlinges of Darius/ was dukes made of peres
Request of the rials /ane of his riche uncles
Our emperoure quen this was endid/erly on the mome
With alle tha alyens him by /and ancient lordis
He gase agayne to degreoe/up to the gilt trone
Dobbed in his diademe/and di3t as before
As Dary demed or he deid/his do3ter he comandes
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Mad Rosan the riche /radly to apere
Hire hede unhelid was on hi3e/and hild all in tressis
Umbyclappid with a coronacle/of costious stanes
As the maner of that marche was /he wedd her to wyfe
And in the sege with himselfe/to sitt he hir makes
Comands hire as a conquyres/of knyytes to be louted
And all the pepull out of Persy /was passandly joyed
Thai gone agraythen up thaire gods /on gilten segis
Sayed thou ert duke of ilk dome /and drijtin thiselfe
Than was he fraid in his flesche/bad feyne of 30ur wordis
I am a coruptible kyng/and of clay fourmed
Than out anone to Aristotil/and to his awen modire
Of all his weris and his welth/he wrate altogedire
And a3t daies alle bedene/he dites in his pistil!
For reverence of Rosan /to revelle and halowe
A 1 be the metire bot mene/thus mekill have I joyned
Forthi lordis be 30m* leve/list 30 w to suffire
Now will I tary for a time /and tempire my wittis
And He that sti3e to the stemes/stri3till us in heven
4Buintu£&ecirnu£ 3Merait&ri.
Lordis will 3e me lithe /and lestin a stonde
Now sail I kithe us a carpe/of a kyng riche
Of the auntours of sire Alexander /that aire was of Grece
How alle the werd at his will/he wan or he deid
The latter end of his lyfe/me list 30W to tell
For alle the first is in fittis/and folowand the letter
And he that made 30W this mirth /oft mynes his saule
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That Drijten deyne him to dele /a dele of His blis
Sone as sir Dary was deid/and done out of lyve
And Alexander as aire/had alle for to wild
Resayved to his riche quene/Rosan his dojtere
And was the croune bekend/of clene all ther ends 3480
He gedird him a grete ost/and graythid him to ride
A power of the Persens/and of the prowde Grekis
The Messedones and all men /he comandis
On kyng Porrus to preke/and prese him with armes
Now gase he furthe with his ginges/the gaynest into Ynde 3485
Thare many daies be dissert/ he dryfes with his ost
Be hi3e hillis and howis/and be holu3e dounes
Be wast and be wildimes/and be waterles bournes
Sone was he wery of the way /so was his wale kni3tes
Mevyd thaim the Messedones /emange thaimselfe 3490
Thai said it mi3t be sufficient/ the sesyng of Persy
And him that trouage on tyme/has tane of our eldirs
Quat suld we fonde any ferre/now faylis oure strences
This erd of Ynde is ilk dele/enhabet with bestis
And he bot willis alle the werd/be weris him to loute 3495
His flesche is fostard and fedd/be fi3t and be stemes
And were his person in pes/bot for a pure tyme
Than suld he faile as a freke/at the fode wantes
Bot lat us leve him at longe/and lend to oure hames
And pass quedir as him plese/with the proud barbres 3500
Sone as oure kyng of his kni3ts/this carpe undirstondes
He mas to stand all the stoure/and standis up in the myddis
Bald baratours on bent/blythly me heris
All the pepille out of Persy/ere put in my will
All ware rebelle in arest/now is the rowme 30W 3505
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And I jour kyng as 3e knaw/with croune and with septour
And now 3e leve me thus lijtly/bot for a litill pyne
To caire agayne to jour kithid/I can nojt thare one
Knaw je nojt how in 3our care /I cumfurth jow anys
Quene 3e dout so the dites/ of Darius in his pistille
Eft quen we ferd into fild/and with our faes mett
I was the first 30W before /that the fild entrid
So3t into Sussys/myselfe for 30ure hele
In the habet of Amon/and oure allirs drijten
Put my person in plegg/and perils a hundreth
And into tourment ontald/me tuke for jour sake
Bot wetis it wele without wene/I wene in my saule
As I hit have hedir toward/heried all my faes
So sail I gete hus ay the gree/with my gud helpe
And for na tene at may betide /toume sail I nevire
If je will lend into jour landis/loke at jour hertes
Bot me to do slike a dede/drijtin it schilde
I sail nevir graithe me to Grece/gase quen jow likis
Or mare wirschip I have wonne/for wathe undire heven
Quen he this reson had redd/ than rewid his princes
And of forgenes of thare gilt /his grace thai beseke
Knijtes callis him on kneys/said kid emperoure
All our life and our lose /is lent in jour handis
Oureselfe and oure servage/is surely jour awen
Ai at joure beding to be /oure bodi and oure gudis
Quare ever 3e wend in all the werd/in water or in erthe
Ay mekely at jour mandment/jour majeste to folowe
If we suld die allbedene/at ane day tyme
We sail never spise 30W ne sporne/in speche ne in dede
Ne nevire jour rialte renay/bot rede to sewe
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Quils an blast of oure breth/in oure brest lenges
Than jede he furth into Ynde/and in thase iles weres
Quen all the jolite of Gingue/and lulus was endid
And messangers apon the marche/him metes belyve
Fra kyng Ponrus the proude/this pistdll him brojt 3540
I Ponrus that as principall/possessid am in Ynde
To this michare out of Messedone/this mandement I write
Thou Alexander thou ape /thou amlare out of Grece
Thou litill thefe thou losangere/thou lurkard in cites
Sen thou ert destayned to die /and dedely thiselfe 3545
That agayn drijtin of undelynes/quat may thi dede vaile
Madding marrid has thi mode /and thi mynd changid
Sin god has sent the with to see/and 3it thi witt feiles
I hope thou wenes at we be like /to thire lethire Persyns
That thou the lordschip to loute/has now on late strayned 3550
And for thou fellid has in fty/a &}t at was sympill
Now muses thou to thi miserie/my majeste to bowe
If gomes be govemers of gods /than mai thi gesse worth
And if the land here on lawe/be licked to the heven
Theministracione of men /to me were to febill 3555
All drijtens and dewessis/ere dute of my name
Ane sire Denys a duke/gane many wintere
He bed us bataill on bent/and the back turned
And or that Sexes himselfe/sesid was in Persy
At the marche of Messedone/made us trowage 3560
Bot for the partise ere unprophetable/us plese thaim na langir
Ai wald the wise have wale soile/mare than a wast lee
Caire agayn to thi kith/caiteffe I bidd
Here na lordschip the limpis/quat list the disyre
Sone as this clause to oure kyng/comyn and delivere 3565
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Before his bachelers on brade/he bedis it to rede
His tulkis of this titill/quen thai the tenour herd
Than ware thai sory of the sawes/and selly frayed
Quat now my worthe werrayoures/the wale kyng said
For Porrus pistill I pray/ne for his proud wordis
No for na manas he mas/mayes nojt joure hertes
Did no}t sir Dary to us write/his pistill with pride
And all the berbrens bemes/in bestis tham affyed
As lebards lesards and lexis /lions and tigris
With comfurth of his countenance /his kny3ts he gladis
And than to Porrus apart/this pistill he writis
I that the kyng am of kyng/and crouned of lordis
The eldest child of Amon/that aUe has to wild
And honored Olimpades/with him ane geten
To the oddest aire out of Ynde/this answare I make
Iwis our wittes with thi wordis /thou has wele scharped
And made us bald with thi bost/the bataill to yeld
Oure boundis ere barrayne/and bare and thine full of wele
The kener is our corage /30ure kyngdome to wyn
To put away oure poverte/and pas to 30ur hi3tes
And ga no3t as the gude ware/agayn 30W to fi3t
Bot a beme full of bost/a barbrene prince
Wenand me and all the werd/to waike to 30wselfe
Quen Porrus with his preve men /this pistill had redd
Than was he wondirly wrathe/and wi3tly assembles
The kni3tes and the captayns/of aUe the coste by
His champions his chiftans/his chevalry togedir
He feris him a faire flote/was fed for the nanes
Of unicomes of olyfauntes/and wondirfull bestes
As ilkane usyd with in Ynde/umquile with to &3te
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And aires agayne Alexander /with armes him to mete
The power of sir Porrus/was passandly many
A stour stiffe undir stele/the strangest of the werde
Of sithid chariots him sued /a selcuth nombre
At the fewest as I find/a fourtene thousand 3600
Withouten bachelers on blonks/and bowmen on fote
Four hundreth olyfantes in fere/folowid him evare
With ilkane bunden on his bake /a bordene castell
And thretty tulkis in ilk toure/tired in plates
Oure meyhe out of Messedone/quen thai so many sa3e 3605
Than ware thai storbet of that stoure/so was the stythe Persyns
All the athils of sir Alexander/was arjed in thaire hertis
To mache with sike a multitude/of men and of bestes
Than was ther chiftans chosen /chevalous knijtes
That buskid ware on bathe halfe/the bataill to reule 3610
With that thai tuke up the trumpis/be thretty at anes
Agrydis grymly togedir/the Grekis and barbres
Sir Alexander was armed /and askis his stede
That was the bald Bocifalon/and on his bake worthes
Mare than a stanecast at a count/before his kni 3 tes alle 3615
He standis up in his stereps/in starand maylis
Then men out of Medy/he mas and of Pers
To enverome alle the vaward/of all the vile Yndes
And he was graythid a ginge/of Grekis kni 3 ts
And maistres out Messedone/this meyhe to helpe 3620
The pepill out of Persye/ware petufly woundid
Of olifauntes over all /with horrible hurtes
All at unweriede away /Wynnes in the stoundis
Durst never his face to his faes/eft on fold bide
Sire Alexander him avisis/and ames in his wittes 3625
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How he mi 3 t bring it aboute/thire bestes to devoide
And mas to beete alle of bras /as bemes it ware
And ftdle of glorand gledis/thaim to the gorge fillis
Ane instrument alle of iren/thare ymage to bere
Was compast on cartewise/and cursoures thaim dre}e 3630
Thir olifantes of Ynde/quen thai thareon waite
Thai wend thai ware wees /and wyndis thaim agayn
To drepe thaim as thaire first did /disclosed thai the chaviles
And sone was snaypid on the snow /with the suart hetes
With that thai fonge to the fli 3 t/be fifty at anes 3635
Of ilkan athill ware thai a 3 ed/that any armes werid
Sone as sir Porrus of the poynte/and o the police waytes
Than was he tangid with tene/and turbled unfaire
Than preses in the Persyns/and of the proud Medis
With arowis and with othir armes /agayn all the Yndis 3640
Tolls of the tirants/and termynd o lyve
Sejes doun on aithir side /a sowme out of nounbre
Thretti dais on a throme/thai threpid evir elike
So lange at the lest way/as lasted the bataill
Thare was the Medis martird/and many of Perses 3645
Gorred and gais thm* 3 e/and grysely woundid
Oure mody kyng of Messedone/the myschefe behald
Seis thaim faile so eyfully/and felly was greved
Apon the bald Bucifelon /brant up he sittes
Springes out a spere/sperid all the plates 3650
The brest of the bataill /he baldly aprochid
Girdis doun of the grettis/and the gree wynnys
His awen men of Messedone/maynly thai fe 3 t
So did his gomes out Grece/and gate a grate name
Sone discendid thare doun /the du 3 tiest of Ynde 3655
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And Porrus prikis fra the place/and the playne voidis
His ledis at left ware o lyve/lendis him efter
And Alexander in that angle/all the nijt logis
Offirs all his old gods /his honour tham thankes
As wele the Ynde as his awen/he grave thaim all 3660
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The secund day with asaute/a cite he takis
The proddest ane at Porrus/ possessore was evir
He past into his palais/and in the place findis
That semed noe synfull saule/the selcuthe to trowe
First fund he thare of fyne gold/a foure hundreth postis 3665
With crafti coronals and clene/corven of the samen
Betwene the pelers was pijt/with precious levys
Gilden wyves with grapis/of gracious stanes
Sum were of cristall clere/clustrid togedir
Sum made ware of margarits/the mast of the werd 3670
Sum was smeth smaragdyns / and othir small gemmes
And new nychometes/nemellus endentid
That ware as semely/quen thai ware samen
And all pargeste of plate/as pure as the noble
The Messedons in tham merkid/with thair mekill brandis 3675
And the thinnest was a nynche thicke/quen thai ware thurje persed
And tho ware strenkild with stanes /as steme o the hevynn
With charbokle on the champ/and with chefe perles
Smeten was smaragdans/into the seveth werkis
And athill amytistes als/in aungels licknes 3680
Of evor and of olifante/was ordand the 3 ates
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With barrers of ane ebyntree/bonden with cheynes
The ebyn as the buke sais/brin will never
And growis in the iles of Ynde/as Isodry tellis
The solers was of sypirs/alle of a soyte makid 3685
And symolacres in the sale/was sett up on trones
All of glitterand gold /as gomes it ware
Dischevaler with chaplets /of changand hewes
And ilka tulk a tabernacle /tilded was ovire
And that was graven all grayd/of gilden platis 3690
Flamband all in filour/and fewiis enblanchid
Mekely merkid and made /of alle maner of kyndis
And tha ware proudly depaynt/the pennes and the wingis
Of all colore to accounte/as thai ere clad here
Of fethirhame and all fare /as feettly enjoyned 3695
As thai ware shapen o the schelle/to schew to oure ejen
Bot was all of brent gold /the billis and the chavyls
And quen as Porrus conne plese/in presens of lordis
Thai made as mery melody /and musik thai saunge
As in the moneths of Mai /or mydsomer evyn 3700
Thare fend he vessals of value /to vyse out of nombre
Ourds and goblets /of gold althire finest
Coupis all of cristall/and othir clere gemmes
Thai fende bot a fewe dele /forged of silvere
Than rade he fra tha regions /and remewid his hostes 3705
To the 3 atis of Caspy he come /and sett doun his tents
A lande as the buke tellis /a large and a noble
All savand bot serpents /and othire sere bestes
To the mode qwene of Amajoyne/than makes him this pistill
I that the kyng am of kyngs/and kiddist of lordis 3710
Alexander athil child /of Amon oure drijtin
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To Calistride the conquirese/comfurth and joye
Oure weris and oure wirschips/and of oure wale notes
Howe we have done sir Dary/and drepid his kn^tes
Coverd all his kyngdoms/and conquirid his landes 3715
I leve it to 30 ur ladyschip/this lange no 3 t unknawen
With Porrus in the playne fild/ proved have ray strenthis
And othir fele that ware to faynt/oure force to withstand
Forthi 30 ur landis if 30W list/to liver fra oure handis
Tas tite unto 30 ur tresory/and tribute us pays 3720
Than writes agayne the wale quene and on this wyse spekis
I Calistride the conquirese/that kepis all this endis
With the mery maidons of Ama 3 oyne/the mi 3 tist in erthe
And othir birdis ebland/the biggest in erthe
To the modi kyng of Messedone/ message of blisse 3725
?oure saule sa full of sapienc/sedis and floures
That all the present is apert/puttes thou in mynde
And has of cases that ere to come/a knawlage in dole
Forthi oure soile or thou seke/umse the be' tyme
Quat tene and torfar may tide/and tent to thine ende 3730
Thare werraid never with us na we /that wirschip achewid
That he ne was herid in hast/or had a he 3 e schame
For ilka lered man of lyve/him so lethir haldis
If he that for distruccon doun/into the depe fallis
Bot oure werkes and of oure wonyngestede/if je wald knawe
I sail declare 30W the cas/clene by thire writtes
Oure inhabetting sire is in an ilee/and amed as a sercle
With rynand all aboute oure erd/an endles wattre
And we ere of females at the fewis/foure and xxti. COL
And twa hundreth therto/and alle of tried ladis 3740
A preve planke is at a place/to pas and to entre
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Oure bemes bildis no3t us by/bot over the bourne wyndis
Bot 3et be3onde ilka 3ere/make we us festis
And thretti days alle bedene/oure delites hauntes
If any consave ther a knaf/than kepis him his modire
Vij. 3ere within ourselfe/and sendis him his fadir
And be seho lyver of a lasse/scho lenges in our bu^e
And is oure thewis of oure thede/thryfendly enformed
Quen we to fe3t with oure fees /feres out of wanes
A hundreth thousand I hope we be /on horses enarmed
Ther leves in oure lede/our lithis to defend
Quen we repaire with the palme/than prayses us our feris
And buske 3e to oure bondsward/us bataill to 3eld
Yet sail we maynly on the marche/mete 30W in armes
To lithe us all if thou limpes/na lovyng thou gettes
For thou Wynnes no3t bot wemen/thareof na worde rysis
Bot and God graunt us the gree/grete glorie have we than
For the athelist emperoure we wan /even at oure will
Be nojt to sturten with thi sturte/to stryve us agayn
For many leres may the limpe/slik as thou no3t wenes
Quen he had lokid one the lyne/he la3es at hire wordis
And to that lady belyme/this lettere he writes
I Alexander that am aire/of Amon himselfe
To the maistres out of Ama3oyne/manyfald joyes
Thre partys of the proud werde/I playnly have wonn
Affrike and Asye/and Europe that othire
3it was nevire man aponn mold /oure mi3tes to withstand
And fe3t with us in the fild/30we fallis the same
Bot because we lufe 3our comyng/we consall 30W blyth
To pas out with 30ur paramours /and pere us beforne
On Amon our athill sire/an othe I 30W make
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Of us to suffir na care /to savely to wende
Bathe our gold 30W to gefe/and of oure gud knijtes
To mary to 30ur maidens /and make tham avaunced
Sone as thai wist of his will/thai wi3tly him sent
Ten uncorsayd coltes/the clennest of the werd
And as mony to amend/of milk quite stedis
Of mony and of mekill quat/mayne giftis
Dame Calistride the conquiris/ comes with hire ladis
Mas hire pes with oure prince/and pas to hir landes
SDecimtt$ geptinntf 3Mcjean&ri.
Then come a sande to this sire/in the same tyme
That kyng Porrus the proud/ with pers out of Ynde
Was in the bonds of Batriane/and oft had assemblid
Anothire ost of od men /him eft one to ride
As hastely as he it herd /his ostes he ftitts
And athils hamest on hors/a hundreth and fifti
Was chosene to chiftans/and alle of chefe dukes
Ordand of our emperoure/his ostis to lede
Thus pass he furth with his princes /sir Porrus to mete
In August eftir Juli/as the boke tellis
All ware thai swollen of the swete/and sweltid on the son
Sum in thair harnais for hete/was honest for evir
Thai went be waldis and be wastes/ther waters ware nane
And armed bud tham all bee /for angwisches 0 bestis
As colwers and for coktris/and crabbid snakis
And othir warlajes wild /that in the wod duelled
As ai stremand stemes/ stared alle thaire wedes
s
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Of gai gliterand gold/glesenyd thaire schildis
Thai droje furth be dissert /and drinkles thai spill
Was nouthire wald in ther walke/ne water to fynde
A kni 3 t that 3ephall was callid/fand in a cole schade
A litill drysnynge of dewe/was droppid fra the heven
3et it was in a holoje stane/and in his helme fillis
And bringes it to oure bald kyng/to brigge with his hetes
Than Alexander to this athill/alle thus he spekis
This solayne sope if I suppe/quethir sustene it may
The menbris of the Messedones/and of the many Persens
Or I myselfe sail be served /and thai sitt with nyfils
Sire 3 e sail first be refreshid/feythy he sayd
Quat and 3 e perisch quoth the prince/and pas out o lyre
Quether evir me list than to lefe/with langour and sorowe
And hilds it down out of the helme/before his athils alle
Than slike a comfurth tham enclosed /for his kynd wordes
As all the water of the werd/ware in thaire wombe hellid
Than ferd thai furth till a flode/and findis all the strandis
Full of redis as I rede/rughere than thomes
His folke fell to it fest/and freschly thai drynke
Bot was na renke at to it ran /at evir rase eftire
It was so kervand and kene/than was his kni 3 ts stroubid
Mare for the bale of thaire bestes/and brist of thaim selfe
For with his florantes olifants/him folowid a thousand
Of sithid chariots and soo/and sextene hundreth
With co 3 rres and with clene floure/ camels and mules
And out of noimbre of nowte/at nedid to his ostes
Thre c. COL in thede/of thra men of armes
Be now thai ware so ne 3 e tane/that thai for nede supposed
Sum of his awen bryne/and sum on iren lickid
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That it was sorowe any segge/the sijt to behald
Than aires him on sir Alexander /with angwischis and payne
Ay folo 3 e furth by the flumme/at I first tald 3830
And at the a}tand houre/I ame of the day
Than comes thaim to a castell/was closed in the borne
It was a mervalous mote/made alle of redis
And foure forlange I finde/the flode was o brede
A fewe within the forslet/of folke thare aperid 3835
Waiteand out at wyndows/to wondir on his ostes
Sir Alexander bad his men/aske thaim of Ynde
And frayn quare thai find mijt/any fresch water
And thai thane hent in thaire hedes/and hidd tham belyve
And he felly with flane/flinges at the wallis 3840
3it for na spell at he spirid/spek wald thai nevir
And than comandes he his kni 3 t/kenely to swymme
And thai alle bare save the breke/with brandes in hand
Than thringes in on a throw /thretty and sevyn
Als fast as thai the forthing dole/had of the flode past 3845
Than girds thare up fra the ground/and grymly thaim woundis
Of seeles and of see bules/a swyth grete noimbre
Dix> 3 e tham doun into the depe/and drouned tham for evire
Than 3 ede he thine with his erles/and egirly him thristes
Lebards lendes thaim agaynes/leons and beres 3850
Dragons and dromondaris/and oyther derfe tigers
Fra mome in the mirke nijt/thaim maynly assailed
Thus ra 3 t he fra this rever/be many ru 3 e waies
To it was meten to the mere/to myd over undome
Than come he streke on a staunke/the store me tellis 3855
Was never na hony in na hyve/undire heven swetter
A foure furelange or fyve/it was of fulle brede
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Umbythonred with a thike wod/thre mile aboute
Was alle of the rede ryse/as I redd first
And that he cutts doun clene/and kyndils in fyris
He gert tild up his tentes/be that teme syde
Tho3t thare a longe quile to lie /and lachen his esee
The mone over the montayns/meryly it schynes
Or he mijt drinke any drope/and then his dole ne3es
Than comes thare out crevesses/of manykins hewis
Scorpions thaim to scere/and scalid neddirs
And thai so large and so laith/and so lowd schrikes
That all the soile of tha sidis/of the sound rynges
Dragons dryfes doun o dri3t/fra the derfe hillis
With kene carefull crie/and cresties on thare hedis
Orisely gapand and grim /with gilden brestes
And flawmes fervent as fyre/fk>3e fra thaire eyen
Thai drewe toward oure douth/with dedly blastes
Sir Alexander and his ost/was ar3ed unfaire
Was thare na freke in the fild/that faithly ne leved
To be devowrid and devoidid/and vencuste for evire
The kyng than comforthid his kni3tes/alle if he care tholed
Mi bald baratours he bad/abaste no3t 30ure hertes
Seis ensampill at myselfe/and seke 3e na ferrire
Bot hedis haly to my hand/and harmes ther eftire
A brand and a bri3t schild/bremely he hentes
Fe3tes freschly and fast /with tha felle bestes
Dasches dragons doun/gevys thaim depe woundes
Slaes of tha serpentes/many sadd hundreth
Than bildid of his bachelers/and braidis to thaire wapen
If thai war mased and amayd/maynely thaim fe3t
3 it was ther twenti that time/tangid to dede
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And that the comliest knijtes/at the kyng ledis
Of athill archars als/as the buke tellis
Aboute a thretty in that thede/tharved thair lyfes
Thus many deid of his douth/as the buke tellis
And him limpis alle the loose/be the lattire end
Now comes a company of crabbe fische/as calves gret
Mevand of this marras/oure men to assaille
With backis as the buke sais/bigger and hardere
Than ony comon cogille stane/or cocatryse scales
Quen knijts of oure conquirours/kest at tham lances
Was nane so wele steled poynt/at tham perse mi}te
Bot gomes with thair greves in twa/in the gledis spoumed
And all at left ware o lyve/into the 1030 entirs
Be thai had fyneschid this fi}t/was ferre in with evyn
Four houres full fame/and the fifte neghes
And leons quyte as lylly/lent tham agayn
Of bodis bigger than bules/berand unfaire
Oure kn^tes at the first come/clenly thaim sloje
Alto bretind thaim on bent/and brojt thaim one Qi}t
Wild berys in the wast/fra the wodd comes
With ilka tenefull tothe/as tyndis of harowis
A cubete lenth sais the clause/cald was the lest
Thai seke out be sundres/sexti togedir
With wild men of the wast/and women ebland
With sex handis and soo/sett out of kynd
Thai held in hettirly/and hurtes of his kni3tes
And thai with brandis and bowis/bremely thaim woundes
Slo3e of the savagyns/a sowme out of nombre
And many ecoped into the scoghe/ without scath mare
Sir Alexander and his ost/angwisch enduris
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Was waik as na wondire was/and wery forfojten
And tham he bcdis at a braide/to beet up the stank
Without his ost ovir all/horrible fires
Than come a beste of a busche/with a blak hevede
Mad and merkid as a meere/the mast of the werde
Ferre fersere than an olifant/as we find writtene
Stayrand on to the staunke/the stour to asaille
This breme best bare /as the buke tellis
Before forme in the fronte/thre fell tyndis
Hedous horns and hoge/and hijt in thaire tonge
Adanttrocay with alle men /as I am in enforemed
Before scho drank of this dam/his douth sho assaild
And oure king with his carpe/his knijtes he gladis
A}t and tuenti men of armes/onone scho delyvird
Bernes was dijt the deth/with dints enoghe
Than mys out of this marras/as any mayn foxes
Come forth and fedd thaim in fere/of the ded corses
All at was bitten of the best/was at a brunt dede
Bot jit thai noyed bot a nykid/to nane that was ermed
Than flo3e ther by the firmament/of the foule buckes
Als store and as stalword/as thire sedill dowis
With mekill majten teeth/as it of men ware
And at unarmed was /thai asperly woundid
Of sum thai nyppid fra the nebb/the nose be the e$en
Of sum thai ete of their eris/even by the rotis
Sum thai luggid of the lippis/the lire fra the chekis
Bot ther bites as the buke sais/blemest na kn^tes
Than come a flijter in of fowls/as fast as it dawid
To vise on as vowtres/as vermeone hewid
Thair boukis and ther bathire fete/was of blak sable
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And did bot plaid by the pepill/and fed thaim on fyschis
Quen he had voidid this vermyn/and vencusyt of Ynde
Out of this perlaous place/he past with his ost
Into the boundis of Bactry/ther bilded he his tentes
Thare reches was of redd gold/and many riche gemes
And clene alle that contre/qwen thai his come wist
Thai mett him fulle manerly/and mekely resayved
With presentes of pirre/and many proude giftes
And thretti dayis in that thede/he tholes and abidis
A sertane folke was in that soile/that Serres ere callid
And all the lyndis in that land/with leves as wolle
And so thire Serres at I said/thaim in the somere gedirs
And makis thaim wedis therof/to were for wintris blastes
Thire baratours bawers/ere bremly rejoyed
Of the conquest of thire cocatrices/and of tha kene bestis
And now he caire fra that kithe/and comes in a stounde
Quare Porrus with his powere/on a playn lengis
Sire Alexander and his ost/a caires thaim agayne
With brade baners and bri}t/and bragging of troumpis
Apon the bald Bocifalon/ before his men alle
He flinges out a forelange/his feris to assaile
The Persens putt thaim in pres /and the proude Grekis
The Medis and the Messedons/maynely thai fejt
Thai swey doun as swiftly/ tha swart men of Ynde
As evir did come in a croft/before a kene sithe
Quen sir Porrus saje his princes /in the prese faile
Than aires he out before his ost /on Alexander callis
It comes he said to na kyng/ne kidd emperoure
To latt his pepill thus pas/and perish in ydille
It fallis mare faire him the fijt/to fynesch himselfe
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Forthi lat stedille all oure stoure/and stedd tham esoundir
Thi semble o the taa syde/and myne on the tothire
Let us twa termyn the taite/betwene us alane
If I be vencust in the vaile/and voidid of my lyfe
Lat alle my seggis and soile/be thiselfe 3olden
And if thou failis in the fild/and I the floure wynn
Latt thanne thine erlis and thine erd/myne empire obeyin
Thus Porrus in his hije pride/to oure kynge spekis
For he was litill and laghe/him laythly dispices
For quen he wan to wax/ the writt me recordis
Thre cubettes fra the croune doun/his corse had a lenghte
The person of sire Porrus /past him that hi^t twyse
He feetis him forth in his force/and in his faire hi}te
Bot the prowis and the providens/and of the pure thewis
That lurkis within this lede/full litille he kennes
Now is the partise in pes/and thai the place dele
Aithire kyng with his cause /encontres one othir
Sire Porrus with a proude swerd/him on the pann strikis
So snelle at he snatirs with/nere snaypid him for evire
Than kastis up a kene crie/the knijtes out of Ynde
For he was dased of the dint /and half dede him semyd
Porrus as a prince suld/persayved ther latis
Turnes him toward his tulkes/and titely rehetes
Sir Alexander him avises/and his aande takis
As bald barratour and breme/his brand up he liftes
With bathe his handis into the brayne/his basenet he clevyi
The pepill of sir Porrus /quen thai pas saje
With all manere of men/maynly thai fijt
A wriches quoth the wale kyng/and wisely he spekes
Eftere the deth of jour duke/quat deynes jowe to stryve
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Wete je wele quoth the wee/be werrayours la 3 es
That quen the govemoure is gone /thane is the gomes wastid
Sire it is better for to bate /and one the bent faile 4010
Than se this rewthe one 30 ur renkis/and reft be 30 ur gudis
Sirs blynes of 30 ur bataile/and bowes to 30 ure landis
Joure fermes and 3 our firaunches/I frely 30W grant
For 3 e have cockid for 30 ur kyng/ 3 e salle no care suffire
And thai callid him on knese/and kest doun thare armes 4015
Thai come to this conquirour/ comend him as dr^ten
Than sett he sales up of silke/and sacrifice makis
Sire Porrus as him wele fell /he proudely enteris
And alle the fey in the fild/and here a fitt ends
jaDmmujef ottatottf 3CIejcanbri.
Than aires he fiirthe with his erlis/and enters an ile 4020
Quare ther Exidraces as ermete/inhabet in caves
A progenie of pore men /that nevir pride hauntes
And 3 ‘it the gentill Genosophis/tham in the gest callis
Is thare na bost thaim ebland/ne bataills usyd
Nouther cites in to sytt/cellis nor na tounes 4025
Bot crepis into crevesse/and craggis on hillis
And ay is naked a nedill/as natour tham schapis
The kyng of that contre/quen he the come heres
Of this prince and his parray/this pistille he him sendis
We corruptible creatours/and cald as before 4030
To the mode man of Messidone/alle thusgate I write
Sir it is sayd to oureselfe/with sere mens tongis
How thou comes into oure kithward/to cumbre us with care
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And that us wondre iwis/for wyn may 3 e nouthire
Nouthire gold ne na gude/at ever Ood foormed 4035
Sen at we joy nouthire gemmes/ne juwels in cofirs
Pelour pirre ne perle/ne na proude wedis
Ne savand hot to sustene with/oure awen sary crafids
Quat in this time may 36 take/if we oure termes entre
If 30 will seke into oure soile/and sett us agayne 4040
Our simpilnes and our sobirte/ forsake sail we nevire
Quen he had lokid ovire the lefe/a letter he indites
That he aproched alle with pes/and in na plite ellis
Quen he was entird ther erde/and sees thaim alle nakid
And won as it ware wildemes in/wastes and greves 4045
Darke in dennes undire dounes / and in derne holis
And bath ther brides and ther bames/with bestes on the fellis
Than Alexander at tham askis/and alle him awoundres
Have 30 na houses ne na hames/ne holes into bery
And ther thai schewid him in schurrys/to schellis and to caives
Said here we ilka day duell/devyse how 30W likes
Quen he thair simpilnes sees/he soro 3 es in his hert
Pleynes of thair poverte/and profurs thaim full faire
Quatevire 3 c will in all the werd/or I wend askis
And I sail gladly 30W geve/with a gud will 4055
Sir nevir to dee quoth thai than/bot evir dure o lyve
That we desire 30W bedene/and than do us na mare
Be dri 3 ten sirs I am a duke/dedelike myselfe
Forthi undelynes to dele/I dowe be na ways
Now sen it worthis quoth tha wees/wriche for to die 4060
Quarto hi 3 ts thou fra half to halfe/and alle this harme wirkes
Sire be my croune quoth the kyng/the cause at I have
Is purly Qods pro videns / predestayned it is before
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}e se wele seldom is the see /with himselfe turbild
Bot with ther walowand windis/my will ware to rifle 4065
Bot another gast and no 3 t my gast/therof my gast lettes
And wendis away with that word /and wemles thaim levys
The secund day with up son /he with his sowme ne^es
Quare thir imagis ere that Arculious/had in an ile rerid
The tane was alle athille gold /of silver the tothir 4070
Twelfe cubettes fraye topp doun/and twa was the brede
He made his pepill thaim to perse /to prove tham within
Quethir then ware hologhe or hale /and hale he tham fyndis
Saje thaim thike thurje out /and aithire thrill stoppis
And fillis tham florentes/a fyftene hundreth 4075
Than drafe he thine with his dukis/in a deyne entris
A wilsom wast and wild/and wondirly colde
As mirke as any mydni 3 t/quen the mone fades
That unneths ken may a kni 3 t/to se to his fere
Fifty days be desert/he foundis with his folke 4080
Till he come blesenand on a brym/was welland hate
And on the ferre halfe of the bourne /was wemen on hors
That frely faire ware of face/bot foule ware clethid
Sum beris alle of brent gold/brandis in thair handis
Sum bataillaxes and with bowes/alle of bri 3 t silver 4085
For brase is nane with tha bonds/ne no bige irene
Ne nevire na berne tham ebland/as the buke tellis
Than wald his pepill and his princes /have past ovir the bourne
And mi 3 t no 3 t for the morsure/and maynyng of bestes
It was so borely and brade/and bred full of ydres 4090
Of dragons and of othire devyls/and doukand neddirs
Than caires furth oure conquirore/with his kid ostes
Lede tham be the left side/of the lande of Tnde
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Sone was he drevyn with his dukis/into a dryi meere
Was full of gladen and of gale/and of grete redis 4095
Than suy}es ther out of that suyth hille/as with a snayles pas
A burly best with a bake/as bedelle as a saje
Kene tethe as a knyfe/a cowdrife breste
Of semblaunce as a seebule/and sloje him twa kni}tes
Wald ther na brande in him bite/ne no bigge launce 4100
Bot alto maukid hire with maces /and mellis of irene
A twenti dais ovir ten/with torfare thai ride
To the formast forest of Ynde/our folke all approchid
Evyn at the flode of Eumare/oure emperoure logis
And at the xj. houre/I ame as it ware 4105
Of olifants out of the ways/ane endles nounbre
Come with a carefull crie/oure kni}tes to assaill
Apone the bald Bucifalon/he bremely ascendis
Bedis of his swiers ga swyth/and swyne with thaim take
Thai ware abaiste alle belyve/ as the buke tellis 4110
That durst na beme on the bent /abide bot himselfe
Be no 3 t abaist my bachelars/the bald kyng said
For with the sweling of the swyne/we sail thaim alle voide
And so thai did all bedene/and sum oure douth slo 3 e
Tuke out the tuskis and the tethe/and ternen of the skinnes 4115
That other dai be desert /tham destaned to ride
Be the wild Ynde woddis/and wemen thai faunde
With bare hedes as a bame/and berdis to the pappis
And had na hatter tham to hele/bot hidis of bestes
His seggis sesid of tham sum /and to himselfe bro 3 t 4120
And he than askid tham of Ynde/and at tham enquires
Quat was thair viannce in tha vales /sire venyson thai said
Slike as we haunt in ther holis/with hunting in tymes
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Then ferd thai furth all in fere /and to fild comys
Evyn to the hevyd of Eumanre/as I first rekend 4125
Than fand thai bemys and bridis/and all bale nakid
At was resild as a resclie/and roghe as a bere
Jit was the custom of ther kinde/as the clause telles
Als wele to bide in the bourne /as on the brade lande
Onone as thai on Alexander /and on his ost waites 4130
Thai flee as fast into flode/and to the founce plangid
Than ferd thai furthe be the frithis/fiftene dais
And sa thai willid into a wod/was fulle wild bestes
Rynoceros as I rede /the romance tham callis
And thai assembild on oure seggis/bot thai ware sone drepid 4135
Than sexti days with his seggis/he so 3 t be disert
Till he was won into a werd/all of wast fildis
Quare nouthire holtes was ne hilles/ne no hije eggis
Bot all as planere and as playn/as a playn table
Even at the ellevynt houre/or evynsange tyme 4140
Quen he had tild up his tentes/turbils the welken
The semblant sorowis of the soile/and the sonne wadis
The werd wannes at a wappe/and the wedire gloumes
Than felle a flijt and a fire/betwene the foure wyndis
Aquilon and Affrike/and Ewrus the thrid 4145
Yultumus the violent /that voidis doun the levys
The south and of all sydis/ sadly thai mete
A breme a blast on the bent /as the buke tellis
That all thair tents it toterid/and turned down the hallis
Ther pavylyons of pirrer/thaire payntid clathis 4150
It altoschatird and toscaild/tham insondir
Than was knijts of the case/kenely affraid
And ilka segge be himselfe/said unto othir
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The writhe of the wale god/I wate on us li 3 tes
For oure founding ovir his forbod/so ferre to the est 4155
Than comforthis thaim the conquirore/and carpis on this wyse
Bad baise 30W no3t my baratores/ne bates no3t 3 ore hertes
It is na greme of oure gode/ne grefe at us fallis
Bot the entring of the equinox/it evire elikedele kyndils
Sone as the wedire wex wele/and the wynde pesid 4160
As be the bale never so breme/it blynnes at the last
Than ferd thai forth fra fild to fild/and freschly assemblis
All at was sperpelid on the spene/and spik with the blastes
Than fandis he forth as I fynd/fyve and twenti days
Come to a velanus vale/thare was a vile cheele 4165
Quare flaggis of the fell snawe/fell fra the heven
That was a brade sais the buke/as battes ere of wolle
Than bett he many bri 3 t fire/and lest it blin nold
And made his folk with thaire feete/as flores it to trede
The hete was tham a hoge helpe/and hetterly it voides 4170
And 3 it was perischist or he past/a part of his kni 3 tes
Than umbyclappis thaim a cloude/and covirs all ovir
As any pynannd pik/the planets it hidis
And that so thester and so thik/a thre dais efter
Thai sa 3 e na leme of the lyft/ne li 3 t of the sonn 41 75
Than fell ther fra the firmament/ as it ware fell spark es
Ropand doun o rede fire/thanne any rayne thikir
Thaire cabons and ther covertours/it kindils on a lowe
And all ther pavillions of pall/it to poudir wastes
It tinds on tend lowe/trappore of stede 4180
And many costious costis/ consumes into askis
Bages and baners/it blemyschid and swellis
And quare it ne 3 es on the nakid/it noyis for evir
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Than knelis doun our conquiroure / and callis on his drijtins
Oiffe tham silver and so/and insens at thaim castes
Unneth his prayer was past/quen purid alle the cloudis
And stint was alle the stikill stormes/in a stand quile
Then rade he in aray/remowis his ostis
To the grete flode of Gangem/and graythid ther his tents
His bernes blischis over the boume/and on the banke saje
Quare thre wees in a wraa/welk thaim allane
Sir Alexander bad an athil/aske them of Tnde
Quase thai were quethin thai were/and of quat kind
And thai him swiftly sward/with a swete stevyn
We ere bald Bragmenys/that never bale thojt
Than list the lord on his life /have with that ledis spoken
Mty he have won over the water/for wounding of bestes
As seebule and serpentes/and soukand leeches
Bathe eddirs and ascres/and atterand wormes
Thire cocatricesse in crevessis/ther kindiles thai brede
Scorpions many score /scautand neddirs
And allway bot in angwische/as the buk sais
And save the jolite of July /thai jowke in tha strandes
Quen he persayved be na poynt/at he pas mi3t
Than was he sary in that sithe/and sadly he pleyned
Callid to his carpentars/and of his kid wrijtes
Bad make him bon at a braide/a barge alle of redis
Quen it was done at his divyse/and drajen over with hidis
Pared and pereld at his pay/pickid and taloghid
Than bowes therin a bacheler/to Bragmeyn he wendes
To the soverayn sire of the soile/and sesid him this pistill
I that kyng am of kynges/and crouned of lordes
Alexander the aire/of Amone our drijtin
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And of the quene Olimpades/that I am of sproungene
To the sir Dindyn one thi dese/dities of joye 4215
Sen we chapid out of childhede/and cheved to eldire
That we cuthe anygates gesse/betwyx gud and ill
Syne was our will ay with witt/to warisch oure saule
And kest out alle unclennes/and clene it devoidid
For the philosophoure in his fourme/us feetly declares 4220
That saje withouten sapience /it seldoum aproves
And it is wayned us to wete/and wariced now late
That all oure levyng and our lajes/je weterly dispice
And jour manars fra alle othir mens /so mekill ere deffirrid
That nouthir in see ne in soile/seke 3e na helpe 4225
Bott deyned it 30ur doctryne/bedene us to write
Joure customes and jour conscience /and of 30ur clene thewis
We mijt sum connynge per cas/chach of 30ure wordes
And 30ur lare of a leke/suld nevir the les worth
Slike similitude of science /is sett as of kynde 4230
As of a blesand brand /or of a brijt candill
For many lijtes of a lijt/is lijtid othirequile
And 3it the lijt at tham lijtis/is lijtid as before
Quen he had wayted over this writtes/his mynd he remembires
And be the same sandisman/him send sike anothire 4235
I sir Dindimus a duke /that nevir deere wrojt
Blith beme on my benke/the Bragmeyns maister
To the modi kynge of Messedone/this maundment I write
Sir Alexander the athille/at alle the werd loutis
Sire the tenore of thi titill/I trow be na mare 4240
Bot anly wisdom and witt/thou willis in your saule
And better it is to thine bose/thann buschels of silver
And mare passand of prisse/than alle thi proude rewmes
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Sen the discretion desire /we depely 30W pray
For a kyng withouten cunnynge/he can nojt distreyne
His subjectes and to be subjectes/as subjectis &}e
Bot subjectes till his subjects /his subjectes him makes
Thou prays us to thi person /a pistill to write
Of alle oure lefyng and our lajes/and oure land techis
Quareof the proces to prove /unpossible it ware
And if we did it to dome/it dose 30W na gude
For thi tent is all on terrandry/and tourment of armes
In bost and in bobans/in bataills and stryvys
A craft till oure condicions/at acordis bot litille
For simpilnes and surquitry/asewis no3t togedir
Bot leve je no3t we be to he3e/ne haunten of will
To steryn or to sturtyn/or sterid to envy
A partie of oure propertes/and of oure pure thewis
Jit sail I send 30W to say /sen 3e me so3t have
SDeciimwr ttomtf 3UIejcaribri.
Sire we the Bragmeyns blode/birdis and othir
A lowly lyfe in our land/ we lede and a clene
All ydolatris in oure ile/ere uttirly devoidid
And to na syn undir son/asent we us nevire
All that ovir mesure is to mekill/emell we declyne
And nouthir covet we 11a come /bot that us kind leves
That is the filling of fode/that ilk flesch askis
And ther it suffirand ourselfe/and sobire as a mayden
Hald we no hors for na harow/ne na homed stottes
Ne nouthir sondire we the soile/ne na sede sawis
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Seke we nevir no sustenance /to save with our lyvys 4270
Set we na saynes in the see/ne sese we na fischis
Ne nouthir hunt we ne hauke/ne hent we na foules
Bot sike as growis on the gronde/withouten gomes werke
And that we fede us with in fere/and fillis full our tables
A dayntefull diete/that damage us nevire 4275
Have we no cures of courte/ne na covitte sewes
S wanes ne na swete thing /to swell oure wames
All superfluyte of soule/and surfet us wlattes
To pegge us as a peny hoge/that praysis nojt oure la 3 es
Forthi failis us alle infirmits/of fevyre and of ells 4280
Ne for na febill at we fele/na fysyke us nedis
Us mistris nevire na medcyne/for malidy on erthe
Bot ay as fresche and as fere/a[s] fische quen he plays
Our Lord has lemett us elike/the lenthe of oure days
For ther leves na lede in oure lande/langire than othire 4285
If he be sexti 3 ere of sowme/that a segge lastes
His successoure has bot the same /and than the saule 3 eldes
We chaufe us at na chymneys/for chelis of winter
Ne comes na clathis on oure corps/for na cald wyndis
We bede no 3 t to blemysch oure blode/with bodely dissires 4290
Perse veraunce of pacience/and pes we reserve
Oure inward enmys ilkane/we inwardly drepis
That is to say alle the syn/at solp may 3 e saule
As surfet surquidry and slawth/the sevyn alle bedene
So that our werraores without/us worthis no 3 t at drede 4295
For wele soner is a cite/sesid or a castell
That segid is on bath sidis/that segid is without
And thou wirkis bot on tha witerwarde/and worthis thaim ovire
And suffirs so within thi fle sche/the faes of the saule
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And we sit allway so sure/be sand and be watter 4300
That na supowell undir son/seke we us nevir
Ne schroude to scheld with oure schap/bot the schire banes
And with the braunches of the bowis/that bens us oure fodis
Have we na deliteable drinke/of diverse wynes
Bot water of a wale well/or of a wild bourne 4305
And that sullepe sire/at sette all the werde
In him we lely beleve/and in na laje ellis
In all oure di 3 ans on daies/that duke we comend
Wele wenand in anothire werd/to wone ay olyve
And quat as pertenys to na profe/us plese nojt at lestene 4310
Ne mekills mellis no 3 t our mouth /bot mesure oure wordis
Quen as we speke any spech/we speke ai the treuth
And than is still as a stane/and stirs it na ferryn
Riches ne no rede gold /rose we tham nouthire
Bot ay voide of envy/and of vayne tho 3 tes 4315
Is ther na beme us ebland/ bigger than anothire
Of land ne of lordschip/bot all elike simple
The povert of our persons /for plente we hald
The quilke is part us all the pake/be parcells evyn
Is ther na brag in our bondis/ne bering of armes 4320
Bot ay perpetuall pes/pi 3 t in oure landis
Ne nouthir jugement ne jayll/ne justice of aire
For dose na douth ther no dere/to dome to be callid
Ne custome in oure contre/contris oure la 3 es
Is ther na mercy ne methe/in oure merche usyd 4325
And I sail quethe the for qui/and quat is the cause
Ther dose na modirsonne omys/na mercy to crave
For avyrice and errogance/and all we devoide
And to na licherous lustes/leeve we oure membris
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Avowtri ne na vayne glorie/ne na vice hauntes
Ne nevir to plijt worth a perle/to ponysche before
Fynd we na faute in na freke/that us amange duellis
For ay on reson and on rijt/rewelle we oureselfe
Ne se3 es na segge of oure sede/sodanly of lyve
For the aire within oure habitacle/is ai uncorumpid
Nouthir to toly ne to taunde/transmitte we na vebbis
To vermylion ne violett/ne variant littes
Our paramours us to plese/ne pride thaim bewenes
Nouthir furrers filetts ne frengs/ne frettes of perle
Is tham na surcote of silke/ne serkis of raynes
Ne kirtils of camlyne/bot as tham kynd leves
Ne neje we nevir thaim on nijt/to naite for na luste
Bot for to sustayne oure sede/and syn ay to voide
Make we na salves for na sares/ne na somer bathis
Bot with the wale dewe/and with the warme sonn
Howe durst any be so bald /to blemysche for schame
The handwerke of that hije Gode/that all our happe haves
List us na lordschips lache/of ledis as oure selfe
For all oure libertes elike/er lante us and paysed
And to sett him into servitute/a syn us it tbinke
That God has fourmed to be free/and to his face licknud
Make we na vessull of virre/ne of na clere silver
Ne store staned strenthis/ne na stithe homes
Maner mynstre ne mote/ne marbryn werkis
Bot duells here in disolates/in dennes and in cavys
Ne nouthire housing we have /ay quils we here duell
Bot at is fetid of flesche/and of na fraunche piers
That is the carions kistis/that covers the saule
A full faynt forcelett/and of fenne makid
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We ere na sailers on the see/to sell ne to by
Ne rede we nevire na retorik/ne rial to speke
Bot certis in all simpilnes/sett we our wordis
That lates nevir lesing/in oure lippis springes
Ne folo3e we na ficesyens/ne philisophors scolis
As sophistri and slik thing /to sott with the pepille
It is bot wiles and wrenkis/at thai with dele
And alle thare fete and ther fare/in falshede it endis
Lufe we no laike in our lede/ne lajand mirthis
Bot quen us pleses to play /we passe and we rede
Of the actis of our auncestours/and of ther athille thewis
And quen we gamen suld and glade /we grete and we pleyne
And othir sertis wee see /that solace oure hertes
First the faire firmament / fixhid full of stems
The rede son quen he ryses/and rynnys in his sercle
That alle the land with his leme/ lewis and cleres
The playne purperyne see /full of prode fischis
For tide ne for tempest /it touchis no3t oure kythis
Ne nevir sondres oure soile/bot sesis at the brinkes
tttte0imu0 SCleranirci.
Anothire mirthe is in May /that us maiste joyes
The faire floryscht filds/of floures and of herbys
Quareof the breth as of bawme/blawis in oure noose
That ilk sensitife saule/mast sovorly delyte
As in the woddis for to walke/undir wale schawis
Quen all is lokin ovir with levys/as it ware littille heven
Than have we liking to lithe/ the late of the foules
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The swojing of the swift wynde/and of the swete wellis
The kind of thire customs/we kepe evire mare
The quilk I hope sire the to hald/unhalesome it ware
If thou will chalange thaim be chaunce/chese if the likis
For here is written all thi will/and we na writh serve 4390
As the tenore of 30ur titill is/our techis have we schawid
Oure dedis and of our disciplyne/a dele of thaim aythir
And of thi lare a litillquat/ likis me to write
For the sothe of oure solitude /will serve the stille aftir
Sire je have la3t now on late /within a lite 3eres 4395
All Europ and Asie/and Auffrik the mare
That seising burde sufficiant/thofe so3t 3e na ferre
Bot ay mekill wald have mare /as many man spellis
The sone for sake of 30ur synn/sesys his li3t
Because of 30ure covatice/to clyme to his bounds 4400
And 3e with wodnes of weris/all the werde fretes
And 3it forfe3tils 30ure face/alle fasting it semes
Anothir la3e is in 3oure lande/at oure lord hates
As slaa 30ur sonnes in sacrifice /and othir synnys many
To sawe emang 3our simpill men/sedis of debate 4405
And make a terant of a tulke/that nevir tene tho3t
The soile ne the foure sees /suffice 30we nouthir
Bot if 3e mi3t kenne the costis/of the clere heven
3 oure giltes growis of 30ur gods /or god geve tham sorowe
For many modirson thai marre/mi3t ellis have bene safe 4410
A vise 30W now be Venus /quat vertous him folo3es
The jafule of Jupiter/and of his japis als
Dame Proserpine a prophetese/of 30ure praysid la3es
Lates this be witnes of my wordis/and waites now ther tetchis
Venus was avowtrere/and many vice hauntid 4415
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And Jupiter a jettoure/that japid many ladis
Dame Proserpine in preve place /playid as hir liked
Loo sary sottes slike a sowme/of synnars 3e lufe
3 e lett men of ther libertes/at tham oure lord grauntid
Thrynges tham into thraldom /and of thair thede spoiles
Unjust is 30ur jugementes/so is 3oure jugis alle
The dedis of 30ur domesmen/3e for dere halde
Is thare na renke in 30ure rewms/that othir rewill kepis
Bot thus me thinke and so me thinke/and threpis it is lawe
Thus fra the rote of r^twisnes/ravyst ere 3e clene
And to the way of wickidnes/be warla3es gidid
3e hald na wee of the werd/of witt worthe a myte
Bot he can practise and paynt/and polisch his wordis
For all 30ure wisdom iwis/is wrokene to 30m- tongis
And all the savour of 30ure sauls/is sattild in 30ur mouthis
3oure grete garisons of gold/ungasthly 3e spende
In biggings of burgis/and bilding of toures
And quen 3e sitt in 30ure sale/with syris and dukes
Than have 3ee seggis 30 w to serve/ so wmes enoghe
Than as a mare at a moghe/30ure mawis 3e fill
With bakin mete and with briddis/bolnes 30ure paunches
Stuffis so 30ur stomache / with stullis and of wynes
That unethis haldis be 3e hos/the hide of 30W hale
Quat dewus 30W than thire diates/and all this dere fode
3oure sowping in unseson/30ur surfete of drinkes
Bot settes 30W into sekenes/of serelepy kyndes
And gers 30W die or 30ure day/many dre3e wynter
Than 3e covett and crave/castels and rewmes
And thristes efter alle thinges/at in 30ure tho3t rynnes
Jaspre juwels and gemes/and jettand perle
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And alle sail leve 30W at the laste/and into laire worth
And maydese 3ft for all 30ur molle/that modir ws cried
That fourmed the flode and the flynt/and the faire lyndis
And as I brefe it in this bull/the Bragmeyns takens
Surmountes all your sapientes/and our assemy thewis
And other werkis of wast/is wro3t in 3oure landis
As graffis gamyscht of gold /and gilten torabis
Thurghis to thrawyn in/quen 3e thraa worthe
Sum of silver sum of sipirs/sum of sere gemmes
Thus make 3e vessels in vayne/to your foule corses
To crome in 3oure carionns/that kind 30W defendis
That ilk slymand slughe/quen 3e ere slide hyne
And will no3t suffir the erth/to have at him fallis
For jolite of Jupiter/3e joyene up templis
With imagis of 30ure ydolatry/all within payntid
Symolacres up sett /of Seropis and othire
And slees into the sacrifis/many sere bestis
Quen 3e have tilded up /on 30ur trouthles gods
Sum of gold sum of glas/sum of gray marbill
Sum of laton and of lede/and sum of li3t silver
And sum ere tiffid alle of tree/and sum of tyn pured
Than fall 3e flatt on the fold /with fees thaim adoures
Bath Amon and Appolyne/and asskis at tham welthys
Of any gud at 3e geet/a gift ye tham offirr
A quantite of allquat/of quike and of ellis
3 e latt as thai mi3t all leth/at ony lede wald
And thai may send 30W bot unsele/and no3t other godis
Thus 3e comende thaim on knees /as cocards suld
That nouthir si3t has ne saule/bot of segge werke
3e have na savour I suppose /how that the kyng of hevene
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He has na hert us to here/ne no hathill ellis
For calves ne for kidis blode/ne for na crispe wethris
Bot anly for our orisons /and for nan othire giftis
God se3is our sa3es for his sonne /at in himselfe duellis
For sekire god is the sonn/that all oure sede loves
And sothly by the same sonn/we ere him all like
And all he sustayned of that sonne /that any saule wildis
Forthi unhappy we 30W hald/that in 30ure hertes leves
Oure kind with slike a conquirour/to comen or to even
And othire harlotry 3e hant/that heris the goste
Of fornicacion and filth /and many foule synnes
Maumentry and manslater/mosardry and pride
That dose 30W dompe to the devill/quen he ere dede hethen
And we the contrari clene/ kepis all our lyve
That we may bowe to that blis/that never sail have ende
3 e grounde 30W no3t on a god /that all of glett foremed
That note newid all of no3t/that nevire sail have ende
Bot othire many do 3e menske/ere him na mare sibbe
Than was the flesch of the fysch/to the faire membree
Ilk lede that li3t is of 30ur lede/3e call the litill werde
And gesse wele as many gods /as growes in him membres
Ilk a parcele of his person approvid/is a part dn3tin
And evirilk lym it awne lust efier/as him list craves
For Marcure was mansla3t/a mainlere of wordis
3 e grath him to be govenour/and god of the tonge
And Arculos has aythir arme/in his awen warde
For the xij. wondirfulle werkis/he wro3t with his handes
Mars for his maisteris/and for his many weris
Him brefe 3e for jour his baratris/the breste to defend
Dame Juno was a jetter/and joyned full of iree
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Forthi scho hedis to the hert/and has it to 3eme
Bacus he was brayne wode/for bebbing of wynes
Forthi swire and the swalowe/that swier he kepis
Cupido has the custodi/and cure of the mawe
For he was covatus and cursid/unclene of himselfe
Serenon is sustenore/and sire of the wambe
For him was quarters of qwete/umquile out of nombre
Dame Venus the averous/for vices opon nijtes
Is possessore and principale/of all the preve membris
Thus ilk cantell of joure cors/3e calle tham dn3tins
Wendis it into duesses/and othire devels many
Of ilk gobet of that glett/3e a god make
And leves no3t as mekill as a lyme/3ore liches on to stand
3 e have na hoping in that hathill/at on hi3e sittes
How he 3oure nase and youre nebb/and all of no3t cried
Bot thinkis on ther othir thefis/and tham as thrall servys
And sacrifice to ilk a segge/a serelepy giflte
To Mars in his mynster/at maynteines the weris
3 e bring him a wild bare /for his wale dedis
The carcas of a fatt kid /that carayne is worthe
That bringe 3e to sir Bacus/to bere up his drinke
And Jupiter that joglore/sum jape bos have
A bullok or a fell bule/is bro3t to his temple
And Juno the jentill/for joy of his pride
3 e presand hir a pakoke/with pennes of an aungell
Minerva was a maistres/of many kinges werkes
A ratland ni3t ravyn/is him to rent 3olden
To Venus the vowtrier/may no3t ells availe
Bot ilk moneth to mede/a mike quite doufe
Appollo with a quite swan/is paid him to tend
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A manere of come to Mercure/that we thi muld calle
And Serenin is sone served /that sees to the paunche
Have he a boll fall of bran/bedis he na mare
And Ercules as emperour/emyddis all he standes
And for he prevyd ay the prise /in prowis of armes
He has a hatt on his hede/hi3tild o floures
Of palme and of parvyk/and othir proud blossoms
The kirke of Cupido/is clenly arayed
The stallis and in all stedis/strowid with rose
Lo to so many mayned gods/30ur menbris 3e dele
And will no3t knaw 3our creatour/at 30W of clay fourmed
Thire deme 3e for 3our dr3tins/that drepis the saule
For thai may sende 30W na sele/bot sla 30W within
As many of that feleschip/as 3e trow and adoures
As many turmentes and tene/30w tidis in hell
Avise 30W now quat velany/and vices thai 30W teche
Ane leris 30 w to be licherus/and leris 30W to synn
Ane to be grindand gluttes/and glorand dronkin
And ane to bragg and to bost/and bate with the pepill
If 3e be herd of 30ur happe/unhappe thai 30W kenn
Forthi bot harlotry or harme/is at 3e here crave
And if the hede to 30ur hestes/30ur hertes is ameved
So quether thai here or els quat/it hurtes ay the saule
Jour doctours ere 30ure duesses/thair ditds aleges
How that thai hampire in 3our here /with many hard payne
Thai cause all unkindnes/and corporal lustes
As surquitry and sacrilages/and othir sere tetches
Constrene 30W into cavatise/to clame all the werde
To rayvine to robry/to rayme men thaire godis
Wailaway to wriches / and wa is 30W in erthe
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Herefore 3e hinge monne in hell/quen 3e ere hethen passed
Than was the kyng of his carpe/crabbid unfaire
For he was spetous of speche/and spised his dr^tins
Quen he had lokid one the lyne/he lappid it togedire
And notid to him anothir new /that now next fologhees
Ctitegtmug primus $a&efu$ Sfiforanbri.
The kynge crouned of kyngis/o lordes alle othire
Sire Alexander the athelest/of Amones childire
And of the quene Olimpades/that I was of geten
To the best of Bragmeyns/ blissing and hele
Sire by this sothe at 3e say /of alle seggis oute
3 e may be sett be 30 w selfe/for syn doo 3e nevire
Bot sothely slike a simpilnes/as me my saule demys
It comes bot of acustoumes/and of na clene thewes
And owther 3e gesse at 3e be gods /for 30ure gud werkis
Or deynes with our dri3tins/for that we tham dere hald
3 e say 3e sawe nevir soile/ne na cites biggis
How suld 3e telle withouten toles/or any tild rere
Is ther non instrumentes of iren/in alle that ile founden
Ne nakin metall of to make/messelyne ne othire
For quy as bestes on the bent/3e growe on the grenys
Refete 30W with refuse / of rotis and of herbys
The same wyse dose a wolfe /that wantes of his prey
Quen he has faute of his flesch/he fallis to the soile
Lo if me list into 30ure land /with all my ledis entre
Quat wisdom at 30ur wricchidnes/or witt mi3t I lere
The lede is litill to love /that levys ay in sorowe
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Bot mekill mare he is menskid/that in a mene duellis
Ware thai so wyse that has waes/qua ware so wide praysed
As tha that lepros ere and lame /that nevir of leth knowe
If I 30ure perties aproche/and pijt up my tends
If I it mi3t as I ne may/for missyng of schipis
Thare suld my folk for defaute/be famyscht for evire
And worthe in a wale quile/to wricchis as 30ur selfe
3 e say 30ur women has na wedis/the werd with to plese
Garlands ne no gay gere/to glyffe in 30ur e3en
Silke of Sipris ne say/ne saffrond kellis
For quy thare is nane to gete/now nevyn I the cause
Adultery on all wise/als 3e devoyde
Echchewis ay that caffare/as castite wald
If 3e na will have to that werk/it wondres me letill
How suld 3e nayte ever that note /that ne3es never the fode
Slik lust is lang ou the lever /and likand spices
Mast cherischid and encheson/of chastenand metis
And 3e bot fede 30W with fhite/at flays no3t 3oure hongere
Forthi nevir ailes 30W that apetite/ther artes with to dele
Is ther na lare in 3oure land/laboure of scolis
Fesike ne no philosofy/ne no fourme ellis
Piromancie ne poisei/ne practyse of lawe
Ne nevir na mercy 30W emell/as mynes me 30ur pistill
All this condicions I call /bot comon of bestes
That has no sene in thaire saule/ne savoure in na gude
Bot we that fouremed is and fast/and has a fre will
Differris as in our fraunches/fere fra 30ure kynde
It ware no possible poynt/to paise in my witt
That all mi3t ay be efter ane/withouten any chaunge
For efter baret or bale/blis us aperis
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And efter wele comys wa/for so the werd askis
Over wild is many ways wraiste/as the wedire skiftes
For a clere cloudless day/mas a clene mynde
Quen it is brijt all abowte/it blithis oure hertes
And be ther gold in oure gate/or any gud stanes
We do bot foules it with oure fete/us fayns it na more
And quen it walows and waunes/all our thestres
3 et ere we toghid to and fra/be turnyng of eldris
For quilk a frek is bot a font / than is first simple
And quen he preves fira that prike/than is he proud lokid
Metes one the medill merke/and thare his mynd stablis
Mekill variaunce of vertus/enveroins oure saules
For we ere fetid full faire/and has oure fyve wittes
Ane oure 8 i}t with to see /and savoure at the nasee
And ane to tast and to touche/and then oure twa eris
Of all the frutis on the fold /we fange at oure will
Bath venyson and volatile /and variand fisches
If je refreyne jow ther fra/it falis bot of pride
Or ellis 30W writhis with 3onre wele /for 3e na welth have
Be many opynion I prefe/that pure is 30ure teeches
Mare fonden apon foly/than ficchid one resone
Sone as the kyng of the kith/ the clause had devysid
He settes him doun full sobirly/and sendis him anothire
I sir Dyndyn the derrest/at duellis in this ile
The beste of the Bragmeyns of bounte and of thewis
To Alexander that aire/that erles all the werd
The soverayne sire of all the soile/salus and joye
Sire we erd no3t in elementes/as evermare to duelle
Bot as qua pas a pilgrymage/fra Parysch to Rome
To othir hames us hije/quen we ere hethen voided
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And in the cites of synne/than sitt we na langire
Use we nane epocrise ne ire/ne no theftis
Ne nothere gesse we us gods/ne grymme at oure drijtin
For many seerties we seet/that sysed alle the werde
And wro3t the will of ilk we/to wale as him likid
And he that waynes ay the werst/and wirkis the better
That gome is gods gud firend/and god nevir the hildire
And this solitude that oure sede/thou settes my pistille
The same ensampill as me semes /into 30ureself touches
For so the qwele of qwistonnes/30ure qualite encreses
That nother gesse 3e govemoure/no god hot youreselfe
3e brixsill 30ur benignite/our bonerte repreves
And beris apon us blasfeme/that nevir bale tho3t
All be we suggets in oureselfe/and simpill oure lates
Voide and vacand of vices/as virgyns it ware
Nevirtheles of a la3e/hald we us dri3tins
It is 30ureselfe and no3t oureselfe/that ai the selfe hantes
Aboundance of avoure/30w all has englaymed
For 3e bot fage ay the flesche / and felsen it is wele
3e bide no besynes of bedis/bot to the body clethe
Els 3e may cast 30W to be coynt/3e count for na ferrer
With soft serkis of silke/30ure sidis underloke
Doubeletes of damaske/and sum of dere tars
With ilka fingire on 30ure fist/fillid full of rynges
Schard al of shire gold/as it a schryne were
Quat profetes 30W this parade /and all this proude jettes
For nouthir saves it the saule/ne 30ureselfe fedis
Bot we that knawis wele and ken /the kynd of the noble
Quen we ere drinkeles and dry/we draw to the bourne
And be ther gold in oure gate /or any gud stanes
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We do bot foulis it with oure fete /us faynes it na more
For neither purgis it oure pli3t/ne prives it oure hunger
Ne nouther salves it oure sares/ne sesis it our thrift
For folowid it slike a fraunchis/at it fede wald
The cursed laike o covatis/ware clene with it drenchid
Ye vise 30W ther of vessell/for vanyte and pride
As gud ware crestyns of clathe/the caryon to serve
I se na godlaike in gold /bot grefe to the saule
For the faster it fallis on a freke/the faster he covettes
Sir Alexander all at ese/avisis him on this pistill
And waynes to him anothir writt/at one this wyse spellis
Hi3e kyng without comparison / of kynges all othire
Of all lordes the lord /that leves undire heven
Sir Alexander the aire/of Amon oure dri3tin
To the sire Dydyn on thi dese/this dities I write
In slike a side of the soile/30urselfe is inclosid
May wele na wee if he wald/wyn to 30ur kithis
Forthi enhabete 3e in angwysch/at 30ure unthankes
And all 30ure lesing and 30ure lare/at 3e so loude prayse
It corns bot of a kyndnes/and of na clene thewys
And als 3e fonde may na forthire/to hi3en youre name
Bot pyned ther in a parroke/inperkid as bestis
Thus pere to ther presons/that ay in payne lenges
And he that se3is to us sage /3c bot a sott call
Bot the grace of my god/mi3t I 30ur grond entre
I suld 30W ken to be kni3tes/and clethe 30W with armes
Than pi3t oure prince in that place/a pelar of marble
Quareon a tulke with a toile/this titill up he wrate
Sum langage on Latene/and lettres of Ynde
Sum was graithid o Grew /that thus togedir spekis
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I Philip sonne the fell kyng/the fonder of Grece
Sir Alexander the athill/that aje alle the barbres
Efter the day and the dethe/of Dary and of Porrus
Thus fer I folojed have my faes/and here a fitt endes 4715
Iticegimujtf getuntm# 3Cle]can!>ri.
Now gase be fra Gangane/and all his ging efter
Fondis forth with his folke/and a fild entirs
Umfaldin with a faire wod/florischt out ovire
Of appils and almands/and all maner of firutes
All the chiere of the champe/was chargid with floures 4720
Acrea sais our autour/that angill is batten
lit wont men in tha woddis/as the buke tellis
Of joynttours as jeants/in jopons of hidis
And thai ware fedd all of frute/and of na fade ellis
Of grapis and of gernets/and othire gude spices 4725
Of sike as growis in the grewis/I told of before
Thai ware as rughe as a resche/the bake and the sidis
Quen thai persayved of oure prince /and slik a pake armed
Than stode thai glorand on his gome /with grisely mawis
And ha mas heraud and heres/to hant for the nanes 4730
And sett up a scharp schoute/at all the schaw rynges
And thai for skere of the scrike/into the schaw fledd
For thai hadd herd nevir of how/ne of mans noyse
And foure and threti as I find/ was in the fild drepid
And iiij. score on this side /and seven at was armed 4735
Was with the churles in the chace/choppid to deth
Thus thre daies in that thede/thurgheout thai lengid
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And dietes tham with damysens/and other dere frute
Than ferd he furth to a flurame/and sett thare his tentes
And newly efiter the none /or nere thare aboute 4740
Thare corns a bonde of a brenke/and breed thaim unfaire
A burly best and a bigg / was as a man shapen
Umquile he groved as a galt/with grysely lates
Umquile he noys as a nowte/as a nox quen he lewes
3armand and 3 erand/a 3 oten him semed 4745
And was as bristels as a bare/alle the body ovire
Dome as a dore nayle/and derfe was he bathe
With laith leggis and lange/and twa laue eres
A hevy hede and a hoge/as it a hors ware
And large was his odd lome/the lenthe of a 3 erde 4750
With that comands oure kyng/his kni 3 tes him to take
And thai asaillid him sone/bot he na segge dredis
For nouther fondis he to flee/ ne na fens made
Bot stude and stared as a stott /and stirrid he na forthire
Than callis to him the conquiroure/a comly mayden 4755
Bad hire be bn> 3 t before the best /and bare to be nakid
And he beheld on that hend/and hisses as a neddire
He wald have strangild hire stre 3 t/ne had stifle men bene
He wald have showid on that schene/had no 3 t men halden
And to the prince pavelion/prestly him lede 4760
Quen he had ferlied his fill /on his foule schappe
He gers thaim bynde him at a braid/ and brent him to poudire
Then rade he fra that rever/and remowid his ost
Intill a brade bent fild/and bilded up his tentes
Thare fande he lindis on that lande/the lenthe of a spere 4765
And thai were frett full of frute /the fairest of the werde
It ware to tere any tong /to tell of tha trees kinde
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For thai wald sett with the sonn/and with the sonn rise
Fra morewane to the mydday/ merely thai springes
And than discende thai doun/as the day passis
Lo this was a wondirfull werk/bot gods awen will
That thai suld wax soe and wane /within a wale time
For fra it drojte to the derke/ay till it dawid efter
It was bot vacant and voide/as vanite it were
The kyng in his caban /with his kn^tes he ligis
Tutand out of his tents/and the trees waites
A bade a berae of a bobb/ bring him a nappill
Than bowis forth a bachelor/his bedinge to fill
And he was sodanly sesid/and slane with a sprete
With that envenomis all the vale /a voice fra the heven
Said qua so fanges o this frute/bees fey in a stounde
Jit bred ther briddis in tha braunches/at blith was and tame
And if a man had thaim hent/or with his hand touchid
Than flo3e ther flawmes out of fire/before and behind
And quare it li3t on his like/it lithid him for evire
Now bowis furth this baratour/and bidis na langir
Up at a martene mountane/he myns with his ost
And viij. daies bedene/the dri3e was and mare
Or he mi3t covir to the copp/fra the cave undire
Quen he was comen to the crest/his kni3tes wald have esid
And namely a new note/neghis on hand
Of dragons of domondaris/and of diverse neddirs
Of liones and of leoperds/and othire laith bestes
Thare was hurling on hi3e/as it in hell ware
Quat of wrestling of wormes/and wonding of kn^tes
As gotes out of guttars/in golanand wedors
So voidis doun the vemon/be vermyns schaftes
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At othir time of our tulkis/was tangid to dede
And slayn with tha serpents /a sowme out of noimbre
So hard thai hampird oure heere/and herid our erles 4800
Unneth it chansid thaim the cheke/the cheffir to worthe
Quen he sckenfet and skerrid/alle tha skathill fendis
Then metis he doun of the mounte/into a mirk vale
A drere dale and a depe/a dymme and a thester
Mi} thare na saule undir son /see to anothire 4805
Thai ware umbethonrid in that thede/with slike a thike cloude
That thai mi 3 t fele it with thaire fiste/as flabband webbis
With all the bothom full of boumes/bri 3 t as the silvire
And bery bobis on the braes /brethand as mirre
Thus drafe thai furth in derknes/a ne 3 en daies even 4810
So lange thaim lakis at the last/the li 3 t of the son
Thane come thai blesnand till a barme/of a brent lawe
Neje throtild with the thik aire/and thange in thare andes
Thai labourde up agayn the lift/an elleven dais
And quen thai covert to the crest/then clerid the welkyn 4815
The schaftes of the schire sone/schirkind the cloudis
And gods glorious gleme/glent tham emannge
Than past thai doun fra that pike /into a playn launde
Quare all the gronde was of gols/and growen full of impis
A cubete lenthe sais the clause /cald was the maste 4820
Quareof the feloure and the frute/as fygis it saivourd
Thare fand thai revers as I rede/ricchest of the werd
Thof it ware joly Jurdan/or Jacobs well
Was never no meden no milke/so mild undir heven
Ne cliffe of cristall so clere/at evir God fourmed 4825
A hundreth daies and a halfe/he held be tha playnes
Till he was comen till a cliffe /at to the cloudis semed
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That was so staire and so stepe/the store me tellis
Mi 3 t ther no wee bot with wynges/winne to the topp
Hit fend he cloven thurje the clynt/twa crasid gates 4830
Ane to the noke of the north /anothire to the est
Sire Alexander him avises/and all him awondires
And trowid it was wro 3 t/of na lede werkes
With that stairis he forth the stye/that stre 3 t to the est
And seven dais with his men /he so 3 t be tha costes 4835
And on the a 3 tent day/eftire the prime
A basilisk in a browe/breis thaim unfaire
A stra 3 tiU and a stithe wor me / stinkand of elde
And es so bitter and so breme/and bicchid in himselfe
That with the stinke and the strenth/he stroyes no 3 t allane 4840
Bot quat he settes on his si 3 t/he slaes in a stonde
He vemons in the vaward/ valiant knijtes
Maistirs out of Messedone/of Mede and of Persee
Thai se 3 e doun sodanly/slane of thaire blonks
To steppe and to stand dede/and in the strete liggis 4845
With that areris all the route/and radly thai said
The writh of the wale god/us of the wai lettes
The kyng to knaw of that case/ up to the cliffe wendes
Sa 3 e quare the same serpent /slepit in a roke
Than mas he bonds in a braide/at sail na pepill pas 4850
In bole and in balane/buskis he his fotes
A blasone as a berae dure/that all the body schildis
And fiches in a fyne glas/on the fere side
The screwe in the schewere/his schadow behaldis
And so the sla 3 ter of his si 3 t/into himselfe entris 4855
Than cals our kyng him his kni 3 tes/and comandis him to bryn
And thai as sone as thai him sa 3 e/him for his sle 3 t thankes
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Sone as this balefiill best /was br<> 3 t out of lyfe
Than ridis forth oure riche kyng/and remowis his ost
And of this way at he went/sone worthis him anende 4860
So at he flitt may na ferre/ne his folke nouthire
Thare was so hedous and so hoge/hillis tham befom
Clojes at was cloude/he clynterand torres
Rochis and reghe stanes/rokkis unfaire
Scutes to the scharpe schew/sckerres a hundreth 4865
Than 3 aris he him 3 apely/and a 3 ayne tumes
And past into the proud playn/I proved to 30W first
That all was brett full of bowis/and blossoms so swete
That badome ne braunche o aloes /better was nevir
Fra thens oure note men be northe/nymes thaim the way 4870
And that thanne fonde all the flote/fiftene dayes
And thai croke ovir crosse /to cache thaim anothire
That led tham to the left hand /and that a lange quile
And thus thai dryfe furth the dri 3 t/of daies foure score
Till at thai come till a cliffe/as the clause tellis 4875
Ane egge that was all ovire/of adamand stanes
With hingand in the rughe roches/rede gold cheynes
Than was thare graythid of degreces/for gomes up to wynde
Twa thousand be tale /and fyve trew hundrethe
And thai ware sett so in soute/of safers fyne 4880
That of the noblay to neven/it neyd any Cristen
Thare logis the leve kyng/late on an even
Undire this ma 3 te montayne/and on the morne efter
Thare setts he furth of sere gods/a selle noimbre
That he honours and his ost/and offirs ilk ane 4885
Syns tas he with him titly/his twelve tried princes
Gas him up be degreces/to the grete lawe
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Treues to the topward/that touchid to the cloudis
That he mijt lend ther of loft /and waite efter wondirs
Upon the top of the cliffe/a closure he fyndis
A palais ane of the precioussest/and proudest in erth
A bild as the buke sais/with twa brade jates
And seventy wyndowes beside /of serelepes werkes
The 3ates ware of joten gold/jarkid of platis
The windows on the selfe wyse/as the writ schewes
And thai ware corven full clene/and clustrid with gemmes
Sti3t staffull of stanes/stagis and othire
3it was a mynster on the mounte/of metall as the nobill
TJmbegildid with a garden /of golden vynes
Was chatrid full of chese frutes/of charbocle stanes
Withouten mesure emannge/of margrite grete
This hame at hoves on this hill /was in the hi3e est
Forthi 3ft hedirto it hat/the Hous of the Son
It was so precious a place /and proudly atired
Thar was na place it a pere/bot paradyse itselfe
Ctitt0imu£ tmtu0 Wlexatim.
Then aires furth sir Alexander/ into this athill temple
With Caulus and with Cleopas/and othir kidd princes
And fand a beme in a bedd/bawnand alane
Ane of the graciousest gomes /that evir God fourmed
All lemed of his letere/the loge as of heven
For it was gayly begane/with golden webbis
A blewe bleant obofe/brad him al ovir
Was browde all with brent gold /full of bri3t aungeles
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The testre trased full of trones/with trimballand winges
The sillour foil of seraphens/and othir sere halows
With curtyns all of clene silke/and coddis of the same
With cumly knottes and with koyntes/and knopis of perle
It ware to tere me to tell/the tirement togedir
Or an any clerke/the cost to devise
And he that ristes in that rowme/the romance it tellis
Was ane of the borliest bernes/that evir body hade
With fell face as the fire/and ferly faire schapen
Balgh brade in the brest/and on the bely sklendir
His chevelere as chavele/for changing of eld
And as bla}t was his berd/as any bri3t snaw
Sone as oure prince with his peris /his person avyses
He gesse him wele to be god /and of na gome kind
He knelis doun with his kni3tes/on the cald erthe
With haile him hailsis on he3e/and other hend wordis
The renke within the redell /than raxsils his armes
Rymed him foil renyschely/and rekind ther wordis
Haile Alexander quoth this athill/at all the erth weledes
Thou ert welcum iwis/and all thi wale princes
Sire thou sail see with thi si3t/slike signes or thou passe
As nevire segge undire sonn/saje bot thine ane
And thou sail here apon harpis/or thou hethen fonde
That nevire hathill undire heven/herd bot thiselfe
A a happy haly here man/quoth this hathill thann
How that thou nevynes my name/and thou me nevire kend
3 is sothly sire saied the segge /thiselfe and thi werkes
Or any drope of thi delume/drechet had the erd
List the no3t loke on the lindis/that levys evire mare
That has the surname of the sonn/and of the mone alls
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That is to mene bot of the mone/and mijt has to speke 4945
And tell the trewly alle the text/quat tide sail here eftire
3is by my croune quoth the kyng/and kyndly was joyed
This word I wald be 30 ur will/no 3 t all the werd lever
Sire waite at thou be wemles/for woman touching
Than may 3 e levely onn tham loke/and lesten 30 ur wirdis 4950
For be 3 e pure of that pli 3 t/ 3 e may this place entre
That is the sette of that sire/that sett all the werd
Sire I am clene of that craft /I knaw wele myselfe
Be thou oure gide to the grenys/aponn Gods name
With that bownes him that berne/and fra his bed ryses 4955
Cled all in clene gold/kirtill and mantill
A grym grisely gome/with grete gray lokis
A1 glitered the ground /for glori of his wedis
Sirs 3 e that will has to wend/ 3 our wapens devoidis
Nymes of 30 ur nethir glove /and nakens 30 ure leggis 4960
Pesan pancere and plates /alle to youre preve clathis
Jopone and jesserand/and radly me folows
The kyng at his comaundment/with his kni 3 ts him spoilis
Puttes of to the selfe serke/senture and othire
Takes with him sir Telemow /ane of his princes 4965
And Antiet an athill duke /and efter him wendes
Thai ferd furth all in fere/ther foure all togedire
The lede at was ther ladisman/the lord and his kni 3 tes
Went thur 3 e a wale wode/ther was wondire of to tell
As it ware hi 3 tild in that hill/ with handis of aungels 4970
For thare ware tacchid up trees /the triest of the werd
A hundreth fote to the hede/the hi 3 t was and mare
Lyke oleves out of Lebany/and lores so grene
With sichomoures and sipresses/and sedrisse eblande
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Ther trekild doun of tham/ teres of jemmes 4975
Boyland out of the barke/bawme and mirre
Of scence and of othir salve /as sechis out of wellis
That rase nevir of aromitike/sike jrekils in erth
Thai fande a ferly fare tre/quare on na frute groued
Was void of all hir verdure/and vacant of leves 4980
A hundreth fote and a halfe/it had of lejt large
Withouten bark outber bast/fulle of bare pimes
Ther bade a brid on a boghe/abofe in the toppe
Was of a port of a paa/with sike a proude crest
With bathe the chekis and the chavyls/as a chyken brid 4985
And all gilden was hir gorge /with golden fethirs
All hir hames behind/was hewid as a purpure
And all the body and the brest/and on the bely undir
Was finely florische and faire/with frekild pennys
Of gold graynes and of goules/full of gray mascles 4990
Than waites on hire the wale kyng/and wondir him thinke
Was in the figure of hir fourme/nojt ferlid a littill
Quat loke je quoth the ladisman/do lendis on forthir
3one is a fereles foule/a fenix we call
Thain bowe tha forthe alle ebland/and to thire treis comes 4995
The plants of the proud sonn/and of the pale mone
Behalds now quoth this hare man /to ther haly bowis
And quat thou will of thaim to wete/wis in thi saghe
Appose thaim all in prevate/bot make na playn wordis
And thou may swythe have a sware/at swike sail the nevir 5000
Than may thou gesse in thi gast/it is a gude sprete
That sends the sike asouerance/and sees to thi tho 3 tes
Thire boles was as the boke sayes/borly and hi 3 e
The lind of the li 3 t sonn/ lovely clethid
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With feylour as of fyne gold /that ferly faire lemes 5005
That other loken ovir with leves/as it ware lijt silver
Than Alexander at this athill/askis a demande '
In quatkyn maner of lede/sall me ther tres sware
Sothly sire the son tree/said the segge than
Entris in with Yndoyes/and endis in Greke 5010
And mastquat ay the mone tree/thurje mijt of hire kynde
Quen it kithis us any carpe/the countrare spekis
For scho begynes all in Grew/and endis in Ynde
And thus be twinlepi tongis/tell thai oure wirdis
Than knelis doun the conquirour/unto the cald erthe 5015
And aithire bole efter bole/blithly he kissis
And tho 3 t if he suld with tha thra/of all the thedes wete
If he suld move agayn to Messedone/quare his modir duellid
Than schogs hir the son tree /and schoke hir schire leves
And with a swejand swo 3 e/this sware scho him 3 eldes 5020
Sire thou ert lele of ilk lede/the lorde and the fadire
Bot thi sire soile in na side /see sail thou nevire
For thi modir nor 3 it Messedon/thou se 3 is thaim na mare
Than list him lithe of his lyfe/and of his last ende
So maideux quoth the mone tree /thi meere bees na langer 5025
Bot out this anelepi 3 ere/and after viij. monthis
Than sail he duale the with a drinke/at thou full were traistis
Than makis he morening and mane /and in his mynd thinkes
Qua suld that trecherous trayne/of treson him wirke
He said hende haly tree /and halsid hir in armes 5030
Quat person sail do me depresse/I pray the me tell
Sire sothely said the son tree /if I the sothe nevened
Qua suld the wite out of the werd/and the thi werdis dele
Than suld thou slaa the same segge /and so my sawis faile
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And that may worthe be na wai/for ay my wordis standis 5035
Than lokid on him his ladisman/said lefe of thi wordis
For writhing of ther wale trees /and willne thaim na mare
Bot gray the the gome on Gods behalve/and again tume
For ovire the lemetes of ther lindis/may no lede founde
Then bownes agayn the bald kyng/ baldly he wepis 5040
That he so skitly suld skifte/and for his skars terme
So did his princes sais the profe/for pete of himselfe
With 3edire joskinges and 3erre/3ett out to grete
Than bedis that the baratour/on bathe thaire e3en twa
That thai suld nevire this note/to nane of his ost nevyn 5045
Quat thai beheld in the hill /and herd with thaire eres
And he than styntes of his stoure/and steris his hert
If 3e will gange quoth this gide/ agayn to 30ure kn^tes
Moves 30W to the nether ward /next I it hald
Than passis he to this proud place /and oure kynge leves 5050
And he gose doun be grece/ agayn to his tentes
Ther logis he fra the late ni3t / till efte the li3t schewes
With sare sighinges and sadd/for sake of his wirdis
Costreynes him with his countenaunce/to with his kni3tes play
Bot that bot sprang of the splene/the sprite was unesid 5055
Sone as the dayrawe rase /he risis up belyve
Riches him radly to ride /and remowis his ost
Drives on with his dukis/day efter othire
Till he was meten to the meere/quare he the monte entrid
That was the proud playn fild/I proved 30W before 5060
Quare all the face of the fild/was of fyne goules
Thare pi3t he doun his pavylions/and with his princes bidis
And the dri3t of a day /he duellis in tha costis
Betwene tha styes in a stound/that strekis thu3e the mountes
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He mas twa pylars doun to pynche/all of playn marble 5065
And tacchis up of trew gold/a pelar in the myddis
With a prologue in that place /on aithire post writen
I Alexander the athill/efter the date
Of the prince and Persye and Porrus/thire pilars enhaunsid
Qua list this lymit over lende/lene to the left handes 5070
For the rake on the n 3 t hand/that may na mann passe
This titill was of twa tongis/tane out and grave
Of Ebru and of Yndoys/and of thire aid lettres
Of Latine and of othire lare/and leves out of Grece
Proudly prikid all in prose /and here a pas endis 5075
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Now strekis he furth with his store /and steris with his tentes
He levys all the marche gats /I nevened 30 W before
And nymmes anothir on the north /the next to his kith
That to the marche of Messedone/was him mast qweme
Sone was he lent in a lande/a large and a noble * 5080
Preciosa the precious /the prose thus it callis
And clene all that contre/quen thai his come wist
With sike as provid in tha partis /presentes him faire
Sum fellis of fischis/ferly to tell
Was like as of leperds/and lions skynnes 5085
Sum with lions on lyve/and lampreys slo 3 is
That sex cubettes clere/wa s of clene lenghe
Ther was a cite in that side/asisid all with gemes
Withouten lyme or laire/a lady it kepid
A worthi wedow and a wlonk/with thre wale childire 5090
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That qwene Candace the dere/was callid in tha bonds
Now sail I sothely of hire sonns/say 30W the names
The first was Candoyle callid /a kni3t althire fairest
The medilmast of the men /was Marcipy batten
The thrid Caraptus is cald/that kepid all hire landis 5095
Sone as the kyng of hire knew/a clause he hire writes
An image all of athill gold/of Amon hire sendis
To mete him in the montayns/that mild he besechis
That thai mijt sacrife samen ther/to his sere drijtins
Sone as this princes of pris/this pistill had devysid 5100
Than sendis scho to him sandismen/with selid lettris
With tribute and trouage/and many tried giftes
And thir the wordis of hir write /at on these wyse spekes
To the kiddist kyng/of kyngs all othir
Sir Alexander the athilest/of Amons strinde 5105
I Candace the conquires/corouned of Mede
To 30ur honoure with obeyaunce/me ane I comaunde
For it was pourveid apart/of the kyng of heven
Predesteyned of his provydence/and of his pure mi3t
That 3e suld pas into Pers/and prese it with armes 5110
Itale Egipt and Ynde/and all thire iles ovire
3 our wirschip and 30ur worthenes/alle the werd spronges
3our curtassy 30ur kni3thode/and all 30ure clene thewis
And that with menne of the mold/no3t meled us alane
Bot drains and duesses/30ur dedis declaris 5115
Forthi like it to 30m* lordschip/and lathis no3t my sawis
We at ere voide ay of vice/and vacant of syn
Quat suld we move into the montts/that mysters bot litill
Outhir Appole to adoure/or any othire dieting
Bot sen it syttes no3t to oure simpilnes/3our sa3e to withstande
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Ne nother to mele ne to mote/ 30 ure majeste agayn
Jit sail I send 30W fra my soile/a sertan of giftes
For reverence of 30 ur rialte/and of 30 ure rosid werkis
I drysse 30W here a diademe/30ure dritts to were
The gaiest gift undir god/of gold and of stanes 5125
And to 30W selfe of the same/o serelepy hewis
A hundreth in a hale heere/hi 3 tild with crestes
And twa hundred and ten /be tale at the leste
Of rekanthes of rede gold /railed of gemmes
With pellicans and papejoyes/polischt and graven 5130
With cambs and with coronacles/all of clene perle
Thretti gobletts of gold /the greattest in the worde
Fyve hundreth all of evyne elde/of Ethyops childir
Rynoseros a roghe best /with raggid tyndis
Ane a 3 te to 30 ur empire/ 1 fra myn erd wayne 5135
Berrers of ane ebyn tres/and brilles a thousand
Four hundreth olifants in fere /this fardill to here
And thretti hundreth of my thede/that threven ere and tame
I presand 30 w of panters / full of proud mascles
Foure hundreth fellis 3 'it to fee /that finely ere tewid 5140
Of leperds and of lionesses /this lady him sendis
A purtrayour in prevate/scho prays with tham to pass
And his personele proporcions/in perchemen hire bring
All was done as scho demed/and at hir dere thankes
And graithes hir gifts agayn /the gaiest undire heven 5145
The payntour presentes his aport/and shoo was proud thenne
For scho had depely many day/desyrid him to see
Then wendes furth hire dere sonn/a litill dais efter
That was sire Candoile the kene/that was hire kidd aire
His wife and his women/and with his wale feres 5 150
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Out of the cite thai &o}t/to solace ther hertis
The kyng of Bebrikes the bald /him on the bent metis
With a company clene/of kn^tes enarmed
Maynes many of his men / and him his make refis
For he that lady had loved/many lange wintre 5155
He gers a beme on a blonke/hir bremely to cast
Before a bald bachelor /on a bigg stede
Scho gaffe skirmand skrikes/at all the skowis range
It mijt a persid any hert/to here how scho wepid
Than was sire Candoile in that cas/kenely distrourbid 5160
Aires on as bely/to Alexander tentes
Tho}t he wald sewe to that sire /and seke him of grace
If he wald helpe with his heere/that hend to reschewe
Be he the pavylion aprochid/it past within even
And sone the wacchemen without /quen thai him thare sawe 5165
Thai tuke him and to Telomew/titte thai him ledd
The mast praysed of the pers/bot the prince selfe
Quat dous man ert thou quoth the duke /and quat dos thou here
Quat is the cause of thi come /do kith us thi name
Sire Candaces sonn the conquires/and Candoile I hi 3 t 5170
And clene tald him [of his] care /the cause alltogedire
Than tumes on sire Telomew/and fra his tent windis
Comands sir Candoile to kepe/in a kni 3 tes warde
Cairys in to a cabayne/quare the kyng ligges
Fand him slowmand and on slepe/and sleely him rayses 5175
And tellis him of that tithandes/the tale how it standes
How ther was comyn slike a kni 3 t/to crave him of help
The sonn of Candace the quene/the kepare of Mede
And how the Bebrick kyng/had him his wyfe refid
3a aire agayn quoth Alexander /into thine awen tent 5180
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Do on thi hede a dyademe/the derrest at I have
A croun all of clene gold /and a kyngis man till
A sejes the doun in my sege/as thou myselfe ware
Lat com aboute the my kni3tes/and call the my name
D with li3t lions lates/as a lord suld
Say thi selfe is my selfe/and thane my selfe call
As I ware Antioc that athill/non aghe of me thou stand
And I sail hi3e to thi hest/as thi hathill ware
Quen I come to thi call /and knele the before
Thou sail declare me the cas/of Candals aunter
Before his person apart /ilk poynt as he touchid
Be nojt abaist quen I bow/ne bede me no3t to ryse
Bot lat thi semblance be sadd/quen thou thi sa3e 3ildis
And sai than Antioc myn athill/quen thou has all tald
Latt se thi witt in this werke/and wysely me rede
Than tumes furth sire Telomew/and tyris him belyve
In emperours aparell/his person he clethis
And Alexander as belyve /in Antioks name
Quen he was callid with a kni3t/he comes in a stounde
Than tellis to him sire Telomew/the tale alltogedire
Before sire Candale the kene/his consale him askis
Ware it 3oure will quoth the wee /wale emperoure
Than wald I fere with this freke/his fere to reskewe
And bid the Bebrike/on bathe twa his e3en
Withouten bade to this bri3t / his brid to restore
And say that sire on thi behalf/ bot he hire sone 3eld
We sail his cite and himselfe/ synge into poudire
With that inclynes the kni3t/and kyndly him loves
Said Antiok of all men /ay be thou joyed
It semes the for thi sapience /to sit in a trone
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And to be cled as a kyng/with croune and with septer
Than aires him forth sir Alexander /as Antiok it ware
Caires on with Candoile/and ca}t him his leve
So}t forth the same ni}t/and to the cite wan
Quare the Bebrik kyng/with the bird lengis 5215
Sone the wacchis on the wallis/tham wijtly ascryes
Qua thai ware and of quethen/and quat was ther errande
It is sire Candoile quoth the kynge/is comyn for his spouse
And I am messangere made /that mild to delyvire
The maister out of Messedone/jow maynly enjoynes 5220
If je 30 ure cite will save/to sese him his brid
Than was the burgaige abaiste/and brest up the 3 ates
Of the palais of the proud kyng/his paramoure him tuke
Sire Candoile to oure conquirore/carpis thire wordis
And adoures him for his athill dede/and Antiok him calls 5225
I pray the prince with me pas /to my praysid modir
That thou may merote have and menske/and mede for thi werkes
Than was oure kyng of that carpe/kyndly rejoyed
For him had list on hir to loke/many lange winter
He said aire we to Alexander/and askes him his leve 5230
And I sail fayn with the found/and felsyn thi will
Than tumes he to sir Telomew/at in his trone sittes
La 3 t his leve at the lede/as he his lorde ware
This kid he for a coyntise/and kest slike a wile
Lest he ware knawyn for the kyng/the knijt for to blinde 5235
Than caires he furthe with Candoile/up at a cliffe wyndis
A hidous hill and a hi 3 e/that to the heven semed
Was loken all in lange lindis/like to the cedres
Growand full of gemetts/and gracious frutes
Thare fand thai bery buskis/and braunches with grapis 5240
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That unethes here m\}t a berin/a bole on his schuldire
With hesils hild of hoder cloud /hangen tha appills
And all the woddis full of wolfes / and of wild apis
Thai bow up to a banke/and the burgh nejes
And Candace the conquires/quen she the cas heris
How bathe hir bame and his brid/was brojt hame sond
Than was scho glad in hir gast/and gretly rejoysed
Into a chambre scho chese/and changid hire wedis
A robe alle of rede gold /and than a riche man till
A croune and a corecheffe / clusteret with gemmes
And doun of hir closer /with knijtes him to mete
A grete gate be degree /agayn thaim scho foundes
Kys me sire Candoile/and clappis him in armes
Said welcum be thou wale sonn/and thou my wale dojter
And I am glad of 30ur gest/a a gode geffe me joye
Sire Alexander hire avises/and all his hert lijtes
Him thojt hire like at a loke/his lady his modire
Scho was so faire and so fresche/as faucon hire semed
And elfe out of anothire erde/or ellis an aungell
Hire palais was full precious /thof it parades ware
Plied over with pure gold /alle the plate rofes
And that was joyned full of gemes/and of joly stanes
With breme blasenand bemes/brijt as the sonn
The kyng with dame Candace the castell he entires
Sills in with that semely/into a somer hall
A strenthe was stijtild all of stagis/the stithest of the werd
Was nane so comly a close/undire the canpe of heven
The bild was alle of brent gold /the beddis of the same
Pijt fulle of pentests/and othir proude stanes
Of onycles and orfirays/and orient perles
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And with thir precious piers /of paradise stremes
Bathe the benkis and the bordis/bett of the noble
Smeten full of smaragdins/and other small gemmes
Of acats and of amatistes/and adamants fyne
Calcidoynes and crisopaces/and othire clere bees
The pilars ware of purfire/polischt and hewen
With gomes grovelings of gold/graythid for the nanes
Foundand on alle foure/on fote and on handis
Buskid undire the baisens/to bere up the postes
Thare ran a revire as I rede/undire that riche hame
Was never na cristall so clere /as was tha clere strandes
The kyng and Candace the quene/and Candale hire aire
The same day in the sale /was served togedire
Scho sesis him on the secunde day /with him laches
Rajt him by the rijt hand /and raikes to a chambre
Was parraillid alle of plate gold/parjet and othire
With stoute starand stanes/that stremed as the sonn
Was ther na levyand lede/ne lyfe bot tham ane
And than scho laches him belyfe/and ledis him forthire
Into a clochere with a kay/the clennest of the werdes
Was sammed alle of sipris/and seder tables
ttice£ttmt0 Quintitf 3CIemtbri.
This selere was be sorsry/selcuthely foundid
Made for a mervall/to meeve with engine
Twenti tamed olifants/ turned it aboute
Quirland alle queles/quen the quene enfcres
Quen thai ware sett ther in samen/one silkin webbis
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Sone begynnes it to gaa/and gretly he wondres
Ware slike a wondire in oure marche/of Messedone he said
It ware a daynte to deme/for any duke oute
Than answars him this athill quene/ and Alexander him callid 5300
Mekill gretter it ware to 30W of Grece/and to gomes here
Than stemes he with the stoute kyng/and stiggis with his name
His chere out of chere hew /it changis into pale
Than has that hende him by the hand /and hent up a lajter
In to a preve parloure/thai passe bathe togedire 5305
And ther in parchement depayntid/his person sho schewid
Said se thiselfe a sampill/that I the sothe nevyn
As fast as he on this figoure/festid his sijt
All falowis his face /and his flesche trimblis
Qui fadis so thi faire hew /said the faire lady 5310
The werreours of all the werd/and wastours of Ynde
Thou that has brettend one the bent /the barbrins folke
The pepill out of Panty /the Persens and the Medis
Loo now the here withouten hijt/into my handis sesed
Bot in a womans ward/for alle thi wale dedis 5315
Sire wete it wele 30 ur worthenes/that for na wele here
Suld nevire no hathill undir heven/to hi 3 e losed
For all the welth of the werd/ware it a wee grantid
It wites away at a wapp/as the wynd turnes
Than chawfis him that chiftane/and with himselfe chidis 5320
Alle if he spared to spek/his sprete he rehetes
As any terand for tene/he with his tethe gnaistes
And hitterly on ilk side /his heved he declines
Qui colkins thou sire conquiroure/and crabbis so thi saule
Quat may thy vertu now availe/and alle thine vayn pride 5325
I swete quoth the swete kyng/that I na swerd have
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For I na wapen have iwis/my writh with to venge
Nowe bald baratoure on bent /if thou a brande hade
Quat prowis mijt thi person /apreve in this stounde
For I unwarly quoth the kyng/am to your will taken
I suld the slaa thare thou sittes/and than myselfe efter
Now be my croun quoth the quene/as knijtly thou sweris
Bot neverthelatter 3it be lijt/and lete of thi sorowe
For thou has brojt my son wife /of bebricans handis
And I sail surely the save/unsesid of the berbrens
For ware it knawen of thi come/thai walld thi cors schind
For opressing of the gud prince /Pomis of Ynde
And Caratros my kid sonn/has couplid him to wyfe
The dojter of this dere kynge/that thou to dethe brojt
With that scho sesis this sire /and to the sale ledes
Sendis efter hire sons/and soberly tham tretes
This athill of sir Alexander /as thai ware alle halden
At thai suld menske him and mirthe/and make him at esee
I knaw it wele quoth Caratros /my comly modire
That he my brothirs brid/has out of bands levird
And how the kyng be that cauce/has to this kith sent
Bot my wyfe will ga wode for wa/bot I this wee spill
Ne ware he a messangere/and yit mare for 30urselfe
Sure suld him sowe for his sake/at him has sent hedire
So sail his maister and I may/be my dire saule
For he the fadire of my fere/has in the feld drepid
A quoth this lade leve son /if we this lede slo3e
Suld we us nymme any name/03t bot of sorowe
3 a Cartros quoth Candoile/this kni3t has me saved
And I sal lede him on lyve/unto his lord tentes
Quat baites thou me so my brothir/with thi breme wordis
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Lift ye we stryfe in this stede/and strike aithir other
That kepe I nojt quoth Candoile/}it for na cas nevened
Bot if the langis to that laike/lo me here redy
Than callis Candace the knijt/in consaille him takes 5360
Sees hire sons wald him sla/and radly scho pleynes
Lord Alexander thine are/quare is thi wittes
I praie the for thi providence /pesse now my childire
Than bows this baratour/thir brethire to stere
Fand Carators and Candale/at knyfes todrawen 5365
Bad blyns bemes of joure brathe/and of 3 our breme wordes
3e fare bot with folite/quare ere 30 ure fyve wittes
Than carpis he to sire Caratros/and kythis on this wyse
Sire if thou lessen my life/na lower thou Wynnes
For Alexander of his awen/has many athill kn^tes 5370
That ere mare sekir at a say /than slike seven houndreth
For if I ware fallen fey/him forced bot littill
For ware I a tresour to that tulk/trowe wele thiselfe
That me so sodanly that sire /had na 3 t sent hedire
Withouten wees me to warde/nay wene thou that never 5375
Bot if the list on that lede/loke with thine e 3 en
Sir Alexander the athill /thine aldfadir bane
The thare bot graunt me to geve/quat guds as I crave
And 1 sail prestly that prince /present into thi handis
Than ware thir brethir full blithe /thus ware thai bath pesed
And Candoile callis to the king /and kindly him thankis
Had I 30W ay with me here/happy ware I thanne
Than wald I wene with 3 oure witt/to wast alle my fais
With that scho kend him a croun/clustrid with gemmes
With amatists and adamands/and an athill mantill 5385
Sterind and sti 3 t fulle of stanes/sithin stelis to him cussis
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With othir prevates him plesis/bad pas on with hele
Nowe aires fiirth our conquirour/and Candoile him gidis
Drives furth alle the dai/till doun was the sonn
And so thai come till a cave /was out of course hoge 5390
Betwene twa hillis in a hope /and herberd alle ni3t
Sire quoth Candoile the kene/and to the kynge said
All sprites in this spelonk/here speke thai togedire
Here is thaire comon consaile/and this the kyng heris
Makes he graces to his goddis/and than the grofe entres 5395
Quen he was doun in the depe/he saje a dym cloude
Full of starand stemes/and st^tild in the myddest
A grete grysely god /on a gay trone
That li3t lemand ejen/as lanterns he had
Oure mode kyng was so maied/myndles him semed 5400
Haile Alexander the hende/ quoth that hi3e dri3tin
Sir qua ere 3e said our sire /Synches I hi3t
And to my power undirputt/is all the playn werd
For thi name a cite has thou sesid/bot thou settes me na temple
Sire if I mi3t merke to Messedone/a maister I the hi3te 5405
Sail nane be like it in na lede/nay nan lange no3t ther eftere
Thou sail never loke on that land/ga lawer and behald
Than kend him quare anothire cloude /was full of bri3t stanes
And quare anothir grym god /was graythid on a sege
Sire quat ert thou said the segge/sire Sirapis iwis 5410
The grond and the beginninge/of all the godis oute
Now I beseke the Serapis/said our kyng thanne
Quat segge is sett me to slaa/the sothe thou me tell
Sire I have nevened the or now /that ware that note knawen
Till any douth of quat dome/then died I for sorowe 5415
Thou has a blisfull bune/biggid to thi name
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Quare many bernes sail debate /and bald emperoures
Thare sail thi berynes be bildid/and thi body graven
Than come up our kidd kyng/and fra the knijt partis
Thus kaires he fro Candele/bad kepe wele him dri3tin
Moves him on to his meny/and on the mome efter
Than dryves he forth with his dukis/into a deyne entris
A vale full of vermyn/and alle of vile neddirs
And thai ware crokid and coynt/with corons on hede
As it smytten alle of smythis/of smaragdens fine
?it ware thai pasturde of peper/as the prose tellis
Of gyloffre and of ginger/els joyed thaim na fodis
For all ovir coverd was the cove/claggid with spices
That makes thir wormes so wele /and wond in thaire kyndis
That ilka twelmonth a tume/thai toumay togedire
Ilkane mellis with his make /and so thare many dies
Than pas thai thethen till a place /of perlious bestis
With cloven clees sais the clause /as kynd of the hoggs
Thai ware thike and theuen wele/thre foote o brede
Quarewith thai fajt with in fers/and fellid of his knijtes
Thai ware so brefe at a blisch/borely and grym
On ilka best a bares hede/fulle of breme tuskis
Thus ware thai fourmed all before /and farand behynde
Like as it ware leperds/and lions with talis
3it was ther gedird out of gripis/and griffons emange
That felly flappid at the faces /of the fell erles
And ever ilka best was so bigge/of body and of wyng
That he mijt bere away a bkmke/and a knijt armed
The kyng was on his couresere/to comforth his dukes
On the bald Bucifalon/eblande thaim he rydis
Prekis fra place into place /bad plukes up }oure hertes
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And cherischest his chiftans/with chelous wordis
He baldes of his bachelers/and his bowmen he cheris
To flay with flanes of the fowlis/and the fell bestes
And it was done at his dome/withdrewe thai na langer 5450
Bath archers and alblastes/and all thaim asailed
The bataile on bathe halfes/brymly begynnys
Our seggis and the synagyns/semblid unfaire
Gripis gripis of oure gomes/out of gilt sadils
Tuk tham in thaire talons /and tilt fra thaire blonkes 5455
Bot jit oure kyng with his knijtes/so kenely defendis
And with his ginge out of Grece/that he the gree Wynnes
Bot 3it was herid of his here/twa hundreth and ovire
Thus gafe up the gaste/with gole on thai heles
Than ferd he furth till a flode/and that a ferly hoge 5460
Twenti forelang and ferre/it had of full breede
And all the strands of the streme/stode full of stithe reedis
Quareof he beds at a braid/him bargis to make
Quen it was hewyn at his hest/with heggis ovir folden
Than enters in of his erles/and ovir the ee passis 5465
And alle that kith of our kyng/quen thai his come wist
Thai perid to him with presands /the proudes of that land
Sum spends on him of the spon/a sparles noimbre
Of mirre and of mekill quat/milke quite
Sum men muscles him mett/and with so mekill schellis 5470
That sex pond mijt of paise/have in of watre
Sum of seelis of the see/sendis to him cotis
Sum bees at ware blode rede /and borely wormes
As large as a mans lege/and lamprays of wejt
Twa hundreth pond ay a pece/and past it be fifty 5475
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Jit was ther wonand in this water/as woman it semed
That ferly faire ware of face/with haare to thaire heelis
Ovire stride ther any stronge man /or be ther strandes sailed
Thai dro 3 e tham doun into the depe/and drowned thaim for evire
Or els thai tillid thaim to the trees /as the buke tellis 5480
And gert thaim laike with thaim so lange/till thaim the life wantes
Oure men tuke of thaim twa/was ten foote of hijt
Als bla}t as any brijt snaw/and as biche sons tothid
Cticcgimug ^ejrtujef $a$6fu£ 3HIejraniiri.
Than aires furth sire Alexander/and with his arte closis
Of terands of ther Tartaryns/twa and twenti kyngs 5485
He stekis tham up with ther stoures/in a strate lawe
And I sail neven 30 W ther names/if 36 thaim nevire herd
Gog and Magog the grete/he with ther gomes pyndis
Agekany and Anafrage/and Almade bathe
Sire Camour and sire Cacany/with all ther kidd ostes 5490
And ane sire Celambert the kene/was kyng of ther ostes
Gamarody the goblyn/anothire grymme sire
Marthyney the mi 3 tfull/and Magen his fere
Appedanere Olaathere/and Alane the grete
And ane sir Nathy onone/he the nabb speris 5495
He lockis in ane sir Limy/with a laith meyne
And Raryfey a riche ray/he in the roche stoppis
Sire Filies a fell kyng/with all his fers kni}tes
And ane sir Bedwyn the bald /with many bri 3 t helmes
Arteneus ane athill kempe/alsso he inparkis 5500
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And ane sir Tarbyn a tulke/with many toore thousandes
Sire Saleary anothire sire /now is the sowme reckend
All thire he closis in that cliffe / and cairis on forthire
To the occyann at the erthes ende/and ther in an ilee he heres
A grete glaver and a glaam/of Grekin tongis 5505
Than bad he knijtes thaim imclethe/and to that kithe swymen
Bot all at come into that cole/crabbis has thaim drenchid
Than sewis furth that soverayn/ay by tha salt strandis
Toward the settyng of the sonne /in seson of wynter
Sexti daies with his sowme /sadly he ridis 5510
Ra 3 t on to the reede see /and rerid thare his tentes
Thare was a mijti mountayne/at to the mone semed
He gessis it gayner to god/than to the grounde undire
And slike a founed fantasy /than felle in his hert
How that he liftid mi 3 t be fra the lawe/unto the li 3 t stemes 5515
Than made he smithies to gaa smert/and smethe him a chaiere
Of blake iren and of bigge/and bind it with cheynes
A sekire sege in to sitt/and sett him on loft
And four griffons full grym/he that graythe festes
He makis to hinge one thaire hede/in hokis of iren 5520
Flesche on ferrom thaim fra /at thai mi 3 t no 3 t to reches
To make thaim freke to the fli 3 t/that fode for to wynne
For thai ware fastand before /halden for the nanes
Now is he won thur 3 e ther wingis/up to the wale cloudis
So hi 3 e to heven thai him hale/in a hand quile 5525
Midilerth bot as a mylnestane/na mare to him semed
And alle the water of the werd/bot as a wrethen neddir
The vertu of the verray god/environis him swythe
And than thai fell on a fild/as ferre fra his ost
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As any freke m\}t founde/in fiftene daies 5530
And he unhurt with mikille unhome /he to his ost wynes
Anothire wondirfiille witt/ 3 it worthid in his hert
How he mi 3 t seke doun sounde/into the see bothome
To see quat selcuthe is seet/in the salt water
How many kinds of creatours/that in the cole duellis 5535
Than gert he gomes for to gang /and grayth him a tonne
Of grene glitterand glas/with gerrethis of iren
That he mi 3 t sitt in himselfe/and with his se 3 t persee
Ane and othir and all thing /at out with it lengid
Sone was it blawen at a braide/and bro 3 t him befome 5540
All boun as he badd/and bunden with cheynes
Than of his bald bachelers/the biggest out callis
And ra 3 t to thaim thir rekenthis/to rewle and to hald
He makis a covand with his kni 3 tes/and kend thaim the time
Howe lange him likid fra the lande/to lenge in the depe 5545
In at a wicket he went/ and wysily it speris
Princes pointid it with pik/and he the plunge entres
Thare sa 3 e he figours of fischis/and fourmes diverse
That kend he never so many kindis/ne of so qwaynt hewis
Sum ferd alle on foure feete/and farand as bestes 5550
Bot quen thai blischt on this beme/than bade thai na langer
And other sellis he sa 3 e/at sai wald he never
That ware unlikly to leve/to any man wittes
Sone so the setne was gane/that himselfe made
Thai dre 3 e him up to the drye/and he na dere sufird 5555
Than raikis he by the reede see /and rides ay the saund
Ferly ferre with his folke/and ficchid his tentes
Thare fande he bestes on the brym/with bemes as sawis
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That ware as bitand breme/as bladis of swerdis
Thai sett in a sadde sowme/and sailid his knightes
Porris doun of his princes /and persys ther schildes
Jit fellid his folke of thaim fey/foure score hundreth
And foure hundreth and ferre/be fifti thai drepid
Than drives he thethin with his dukes /into desert landes
Is ri3t betwene the reede see /and Arrabie costis
A wilsom wast and a wild/and wons full of neddirs
And thai ware hedously hoge/and homed as tupis
Thai turred doun of his tulkes/and with ther tyndis slo}e
Bot the drejest deele of thaim died /of his dukes handes
Than past he to another place /and pijt doun his tentes
And fand a bataill of bestes/as breme as the first
Thai ware of figoure and of fourme/as fendis of hell
With hevy hedis and hoge/as horses it were
And thai ware tacchid full of tethe/as tyndes ere of harows
And fell fiames as of fire/floje fra thaire mouthes
A selly sowme of his seggis/was slane or he wist
And he then hertes his here/biddis hewis on my childire
And ferly ferd of his folke /was in the fild strangild
Bot all the dre3e of tha devels/thai drenchid or thai past
Than fondis he furth with his folke/into a fild entris
And ther he logis with his lordis/and lengis for a quile
For slike a fell infirmite/was in his hors bunden
Bucifalon the bald stede/that he for bale dies
The berae blischis on his blounke/and sejes his breth faile
Sighis selcuthly sare/and sadli he wepis
For he had standen him in stede/in stouris full hard
Won him wirschip in were/fra many wathe saved
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The kynge to this carione/he castis his ejen
Said fare wele my faire foole/thou failid me nevir
Sail now thi flesch here be fireten/with fowlis and with wormes
That has so dojtyly done /nay drijtin forbede
Than bilds he thare a berynes/this beste in to ligg
Of schene schemerand gold /as it a schrine ware
A tombe as a tabernacle /and tildis up a cite
In reverence of that riche stede/and efter him it callis 5595
Than ridis he to a rever/a ruyde and a hoge
Detiraty the depe/the men thare it callis
Fyve thousand olifants in feree/tha frithmen him brojt
A hundreth ml. hevy chargis/ware he wen for the were
Than pas he to a proude place/a palas of joye 5600
Of Sexis at sum time/was senyoure of Persy
Ther fand he garettes all of gold /and gilden chaumbres
And many a miracle in the mote/that miche ware to reken
Ther fand thaim bridis in tha bilds /borely and quite
Of fether fresch as any fame/as ere ther fowill dowfis 5605
That se wald of a seke man /or any sorow ailid
Quether he suld warisch of that waa/or of the werd tourne
For if thai blithly up blenkid/and blischt on his face
Than suld he cover of his care/men knew by the takens
And if thai chaungid opon chaunce/his chere to behold 5610
Withouten doute he was dede/than durid he na langer
Now bowis forth this baratour/and Babiloyn he wynnys
Brettenes the bald kyng/and bringes him of lyve
Ane Nabi^anda was named /and a noble kni}t
Was ane the proudest of his pirs/and prince of his ward 5615
He lenges in lithis and in lee/ to his lyves ende
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A seven monethis in sonde /and sende out a pistill
To his modire into Messedone/and to his maister als
Of his auntours of his angwisch/and of his athill werkes
And Aristotill belyve/him anothire writes 5620
To the kyng of kynges quoth this clerke/comand I myselfe
Sire quen I wartid on jour werkes /I wex all affraid
Sum grayne of godhede I gesse/was growen jow within
For thou has said that never did segge/ne sa 3 e hot thine ane
Jit mi3t never I lofe oure lorde/my lege 30W witstande 5625
Sir blissid be all thi bachelers/at the bales helpid
And now fynes here a fitt/and folowis another
Ctitegmiutf sfepthmtf SMejranferi.
Oure bold kyng in Babilone/nowe bildis up a trone
The postis with all the apurtynance/as pure as the noble
That was so wondirly wro 3 t/of werkis diverse 5630
That slike a sege undir son /was nevir sene efter
So grete garisons of gold /the Grekis in bro 3 t
The Medis and the Messodons/many horsis chargid
That thai out of Ynde and elsquare/with olifants lede
It wald have wlated any wee /that welth to behald 5635
Twelfe cubetts fra the cald erth/he castes it on hi 3 t
And xij. degreces all of gold /for gate up of lordis
And twyse sex semylacris/sesid he ther undire
That held on hi 3 e with thair handis/all ther hevy werke
And ther was gravyn in thos gomes /with Grekin letteris 5640
And titild in the tried names /of his twelfe princes
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With ilk a statute that ther stude/stoutely enarmed
And ever ilk a person a prince /paynted was efter
All the sete of the sege/was smaragdyns fyne
Off tried topaces and trewe/tyrid was the wawes
A tabernacle over the trone/tildid up on loft
And than with stanes of ilka state /in all the stoure clustrid
A charbocle as a chasse/was in the chefe bolle
That brynt in bely blind ni3t/as bri}t as the sonn
With imagis undire in ilka nend/and impid in the names
Of all the provynces and the places/that he was prince ovire
And thai ware visid all in vesire/in variant letters
Sum in Latens lare/sum langage of Grece
Assisid all of sex foote/and sett in betweene
Ay thre paire on a place / qware a poynt ristes
Now sail I nevyn 30W the names/note 3e the wordis
The pepill out of Panthi/is plant in first
Prato Picard and Pers/and Pamplalie bathe
Portingale and Paiters/it paies me trouage
Arrabe and Artoyes/and Assie the mare
Abbeone and Aufrike/and Acres anothire
Effosynie and Ethiops/thir Ebraes folke
All Ermony and Ewrope/enterely me serves
Ingland Itaile and Yndee/and Ireland cost es
Mede and Mesopotayme/and Massedoyne eke
Turke Tuscane and Troy /and Tartary clene
Surre Sysyll and Saarde/and Syres all ovire
Gyane Garnad and Grece /and Gascoyne I have
Bathe Bayone and Burdeux/and Bretayn the graunt
Capidos and Calde/the Canony pepill
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Russe Romayn and Ramys/a rent thai us 3eld
All Calabres and Corwaile/our coron obien
Bathe Naples and Norway /thir nanernes alle
The heeris out of Hungry /and out of haythen Spayn
Frigie Flandres and Fraunce/and Femony us loutes
Ascalion and Arcagee/alle of us haldis
Tiree and Tasse and Tessale/our tributars ere
Poliponens and Pentapol/and Palestyne the riche
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APPENDIX
FROM
THE BODLEIAN MANUSCRIPT.
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W han this weith at his wil/wedering hadde
Pul rathe roumede he/rydinge thedirre
To Oridrace with his ost/Alixandre wendus
There wilde contre was wist /and wonderful peple
That weren proved fill proude/and prys of hem helde 5
Of bodi wente thei bar/withoute any wede
And hadde grave on the ground/many grete cavys
There here wonnynge was/wyntyrus and somerus
No syte nor no sur stede/sothli thei ne hadde
But holus holwe in the ground/to hiden hem inne 10
The proude Genosophistiens/were the gomus called
Now is that name to mene/the Nakid Wise
Wan the kiddeste of the cavus/that was king holde
Hurde tithinge telle /and toknynge wiste
That Alixandre with his ost/atlede thidire 15
To be holden of hem/hure hiejest prynce
Thanne weies of worschipe/wittie and quainte
With his lettres he let/to the lud sende
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Thanne south te thei sone/the forsaide prynce
And to the schamlese schalk/schewden hur lettres 20
Thanne rathe let the rink /reden the sonde
That newe tithinge/it tolde in this wise
The gentil Genosophistiens/that goode were of witte
To the emperour Alixandre/here answerus wreten
That is worschipe of word/worthi to have 25
And is conquerour kid /in contres manie
Us is sertefied seg/as we soth heren
That thou hast ment with thi men/amongus us fare
But 3 if thou king to us come/with caire to fijhte
Of us getist thou no good/ gome we the wame 30
For what richesse rink /us might thou bireve
Whan no wordliche wel/is with us founde
We ben sengle of us silf/and semen ful bare
Nouht welde we now /but naked we wende
And that we happili her /haven of kynde 35
May no man but God/maken us tine
Thei thou fonde with thi folk /to f^hte with us alle
We schulle us kepe on caujt/oure cavus withinne
Nevere wercede we with/wi 3 th upon erthe
For we ben hid in oure holis/or we harm lacche 40
Thus saide sothli the sonde /that thei sente hadde
And al so cof as the king/kende the sawe
Newe lettres he let/theludus bitake
And with his sawus of soth /he sikured hem alle
That he wolde fare with his folk /in a faire wise 45
To biholden here horn /and non harm wirke
So hath the king to hem sente /and sithen with his peple
Kairus cofli til hem /to kenne of hure fare
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But whan thei sien the seg/with so manie ryde
Thei were agrisen of his grym/and wende gref tholie 50
Faste heiede thei to holis/and hidden hem there
And in the cavus hem kepte/firo the king steme
Thanne weren from hem went/wifis and children
With othir bestus aboute/that hem bi ferde
After ferde Alixandre/and askede hem sone 55
By ludus of the langage/how thei leve mijhte
And 3 if thei ne hadde none holis/on the holw erthe
As hadde the weies that were /here wordliche makus
Thanne thei caire with the king/hur cavus to schewe
And kennen the conquerour/hur costomus alle 60
And saide seg to us silf/sofisen this cavus
Of othur hous than her arne/have we no nede
Whan alle thei til Alixandre/ hadde answere ^oulde
The king cortais ikid/cofliche saide
For I have founde 30 U folk /faithful of speeche 65
Me to lere of 30 ur lif/withoute les tale
Jemes now of my 3ift/that 30U leve were
And what it be that 3 e bidde/ 30 ur bonus I graunte
Thanne saide thei Wordlich wei 3 /we wische of thei 3 ifte
Ai lastinge lif / to lacchen upon erthe Jo
That us derye no deth/ desire we nouthe
For othur wordliche won /at wille we have
Nai sertus saide the noble /that may not be graunted
Of me that m^hteles am/myselfe so to kepe
I am sikur of my silf/to suffre min ende 75
I ne have no lordschipe of lif/ to lengthe my daies
Seg saide thei again /syn thou so knowist
That the is demed the deth /to dure nouht longe
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Whi farest thou so fihtinge/folk to distroie
And for to winne the word/wendest so romme 80
How mi 3 ht thou kepe the of sckathe/with skill and with trouthe
Ajeins ryht to bireve/rengnus of kingus
Thanne agayn saide the gome/with a good chere
Thorou the grace of God /I gete that I have
Thei han demed me or deth/ thorou dintus of nujhte 85
Of erthe to be emperour/in everych a saide
Sin I have grace of that graunt/ grimmest to worthe
I wrouthe wrethelie now/ and wrathede drihten
Jif I for dul of any deth/my destene fledde
That is markid to me/and to no mo kingus 90
Men seth wel that the see/seseth and stinteth
But whan the wind on the watur/the wawus arereth
So wolde I reste me rathe /and ride ferthe
Nevere to gete more good/ no no gome derie
Bute as the heie hevene goodus/with herteli thouhtus 95
So awecchen my wit /and my wil chaungen
That I mai stinte no stounde/stille in o place
That I ne am temted ful tid/to tume me thennus
And sin we wetin hur wil /to worschen on erthe
We mowe be sothliche isaid/hur servantus hende 100
Jif God sente every gome /that goth upon molde
Wordliche wisdam/and wittus iliche
Betur m^hte no bum /be than an othur
A pere mi 3 hte the pore /to parte with the riche
Thanne ferde the worlde as a feld/that ful were of bestes 105
When everi lud liche wel/lyvede upon erthe
For that enchesonn God ches/ other chef kingus
That scholde maistrus be maad/over mene peple
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And me is markid to be/most of alle othur
For thi Y chase to cheve/as chaunce is me demed
Whan this sawe was said /the semliche prynce
Fro the foresaide folk/fondes to ride
Thanne he farus to a feld/ful fair and ful large
That stod on an hie stede/astored with frutus
There sai he semliche tres/with the sonne woxe
That frut baren hem above /on bowus ful thikke
And al so sone as the sonne /sesede to schine
That sijt don was the day/fordon of the cloudus
The tres seseden of sijht/and sonken to gronde
That frekus mijht no frith /no no firut kenne
As rathe as the sonne ros/and reed gan schine
That his lem on the loft/lijht 3af aboute
The tres spradden hure spraies/and spronngen on hi3the
In grete grounede frut /on the grene braunchus
Thanne comaundede the king/cofli to feche
Of that fteliche frut /that the frekus siee
Thanne a bold kniht/in to a bow stirte
The sote saverede frut /sone to pulle
But as so rathe as the rink /gan the ris touche
Doun fel he with dul/ded in the place
And sithen sent was a vois/sone fro hevene
That non trinde the tres /last thei taried were
For even grene growe tre/that on the ground spronge
Hadde bremliche a brid/the braunchus alofte
That whan ther buskede a bum/a bow for to touche
Thei spatten sparclus of fir /and spildin him rathe
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$oto SUlfranbtt tcmefcoiti to a flob tfjat i# caHefc $f)teon.
As sone the king sai/that it so ferde
He dide him forth to fiod/that Phison is called
That writen is in Holi Wriht/and wrouht so to name
From perlese Paradis /passeth the stronde 140
In cost there the king was /men callede hit Gena
As was the langage of the lond/with ludis of Inde
There made the Mascedomns king /his men for to stinte
And bi the banke of the strem/he biggede his tentus
Thanne the Mastredomus men /in the men tyme 145
Blonde Phisonus flod/saien folk rome
Forthi bad the bolde king /that bumus of Inde
Scholde talken him til /and tidliche enquere
The name of hure nation /nedli to knowe
For muche wilnede the weijht/to witen of here fare 150
Ride mijhte nouht the rink /over the rounne stronde
For the wormus that were/bi the water founde
For outtaken viij. wokns/of al the twelf monthe
That is sothli to saie/the sesoun of Juli
And hervest that hastly/aftter him folweth 155
Dredful dragonus / drawen hem thiddire
Addrus and ypotamus/and othure ille wormus
And careful cocodrillus/that the king lette
For skathe of the scorpionus/askape thei ne mi}hte
So rive romede thei /the river biside 160
As prest as the pris king/sai his pres stinte
That he fer with his flok/fare ne mijhte
For the bestus of bale /that bi the watur ferde
And harm of the houndfich/that hovede there inne
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Of the seggus that he sai /blonde the side stronde
Ho dide calle for to come /to carpen him tille
Whan thei hurden is houp/hastiliche aftur
A lud to a litil boot/lepus in haste
And rathe to the riche king/romwus alone
And aftur of Alixandre / asketh his wille
A wel langaged lud/let the king sone
Aspien ful spedliche/bi speche of the lande
In what kyth were thei kid /and what hit called were
And ho were lord of hur land /and ledere of alle
We were in Bragmanie bred/saide the bum thanne
In Dindimus the dere king /our demere is holde
Sertus saide Alixandre /the sawe me quemus
Me hath longe to 30ur land/liked to wende
With 30U to carpe in this kith/covaited Y 3orne
For miche ludus of 30ur lif/listned Ic have
Thanne let the lordliche king/lettres endite
And thereon settus his sel/and sithen hem takus
To the bum on his bot/and bad him in haste
To the king of hur kith/carien his sonde
Than whith the weiht/over the water stems
And the lettrus to his lord/ledus ful sone
As sone as his king saye/that sonde him yprofred
He hit lacchus of the lud/and lokus ther inne
And 3if 3e ludus have list /the lettrns to knowe
Tendeth how this tale /is titeled ther inne
The kidde king Alixandre /that couth is in erthe
That name hath of noblete/and nevere man dradde
That grete god Amon/in gracious timus
Bigat on Olimpias/the onerable quene
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Dindimus the dere king/doth fpr to grete
That lord of Bragmanus lond/and ledere is holde
And in this same wise saith/and sendeth him gon
And til alle that am/aflur him thare
We han ludus of jour lif/listned ful ofte
That michil ben jour manerus/from other men varied
For 3e non erthe ne eren/that erne 30U mijhte
Fode for to fare with /as othur flok usen
On se saile 3e nouht/in sasoun of 3ere
For to fihche on the fom/or finde any praie
But litil leve we that/lud I the wame
Forthi biseche Y the seg/3if it soth were
Send me tynige tid/and tel me the sothe
That Y may witen of jour werk/and of 30ur wonus alle
For 3if men saith bi 30W soth /the sawe that Y hirde
Of more marvailouse men/mijhte I nouht kenne
3 if Y wisdam or wit/in jour werk finde
That God aloweth 30ur lif/and liketh 30ur dedes
Y schal your costomus king/covaite to holde
And fonde for bi mijht/jour fare to sinke
For fram the jouthe of my 3er/3emed Ic have
Of wide werkus to wite/and wisdam lere
We weren tauht in oure time /and tendide lorus
Of oure doctourus dere/demed for wise
That non hathel undur hevene/so holi is founde
That mihte alegge any lak/our lif to reprove
But for Y ludus of joure lif/swich a los hurde
That we discorden of dede/in many done thingus
And that 30ur doctours dere /don 30U to knowe
The best lorus of lif/and lawus of wise
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And we 3011 praien sire prince /prestly me sende 225
Alle the lorus of 30ur lif/in lettres aseled
And Y bihote 30U her /unharmed to leve
For more may hit in cas/3ou menske than greve
Whan may hit greven a man /that mich good knowith
To carpe of his konninge/and kenne it til othere 230
For the were is no weih/wis 3if he seme
Thou3 he finde othur folk/folewen his dedus
Of a torche that is tend/tak an ensample
That thou3 ludus of the lem/lihtede an hundred
Hit scholde nouht lesen his liht/no the latur brenne 235
While the weke and the waxe/ on waste th lasteth
And so it farus bi flok/that fain is to teche
Hit wasteth no wisdam/weihes to lere
Forthi busiliche burn /we bidde the nouthe
Withoute tariginge of time/tithinge sende 240
Of that we 3emen of 30u/ful 3are to kenne
To witen of the wisdam/that 30 with faren
Whan dereworthe Dindimus/the enditinge hurde
Of Alixandre askinge/as he write hadde
Othir lettrus he let/of hur lif writte 245
And agyn to the gome/goodliche he sente
As cof as hit come was/there the king dwelde
In this manner did the man/the massage arede
$oto fting Din&imujt fient IctmijJ to feiitg Silijftm&rc.
The dere king Dindimus/the doctour of wise
That lord of Bragmanus loud/alosed is thare 250
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To emperour Alixandre/egrest of princes
That is grimmest igrowe/and grettest of kingus
Sendeth lettres of lowe/and to the lud writes
Miche gretithinge of grace /and grauntinge of joie
Bi thi message man /that thou to me sentest
Whan we sihen thi sonde /with thi sel prented
We kenden thi covaitise/and that thou king wilnest
The rihtewisnesse wite/that to a weih longus
In that alowe I the lud /that the lef were
The beste lawe to lere/and lorus of witte
For riht wisdam is worth /al the world riche
For non emperour on erthe/that evere was founde
That wantede wisdam /his wihes to gye
Mihte lordschipe lache/of othur low peple
Bute the loweste that livede/his lord mihte worthe
And with him fare as a fol/that failede his wittus
Netheles sire noble king/Y the now wame
To oure painede peple /inpossible hit semeth
That 3e oure manerus mihte /mekliche endure
Or in the lif that we live/laste any while
For oure lif and oure lawe/unlich is to 30ure
And al luthur bileve/we lothen in herte
Al the dedes that 3e don/discorden til oure
For we ne grete noht the godus/that 3e gode holden
Of that thou senteste sire king /to say the truhe
Of al the lore of our lif/withoute long dwelle
Hathel for thin hendschepe/have us exkused
For we ne konne the nouht kenne/our costomus alle
Thou3h I lud of our lif/lettrus the sende
Prince hit profiteth nouht /to preche of oure dedus
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3e ne have no tome no tune/to tende my sawus
For je so busiliche ben with/aboute the werre
But say thou nouht sire king/for sake of envie
That me were loth of our lif/ludus to teche
For as michel as Y may/in minde bithenke 285
Bi this aselede sonde /sothliche I telle
We bredde brethume in God/Bragmanus pore
Leden clanliche our lif/and libben as simple
We ne wilne in this world/to wolde no more
Bute as we simpleliche our lif/sostaine mowe 290
We ben to penance iput/and poverte drien
We holde hit nedfiil to nime/that nouht may be wastid
Hit is no leve in oure lawe/that we land erie
With no scharpede schar/to schape the forues
Ne sette solow on the fled/ne sowe non erthe 295
In ony place of the plow /to plokke with oxen
Ne in no side of the se/to saile with nettus
Of the finnede fihes/our fode to lacche
For to hauke ne hunte/have we no leve
Ne foure fotede best/ferke to kille 300
Ne to faren in the feld/and fonde with slyhthe
For to refe the brod/of briddus of hevene
And whan we faren to fed /we finde no faute
We han so michel at the mel/that we no more wilne
Othir goodis to gete/give we no tente 305
Ne othir dainteys dere/ desire we none
Than oure moder of mete/may us forth bringe
That we kennen for kinde/and callen the erthe
Sche us norscheth at nede/and inow sendeth
Withoute swet othur swink/swich as we haven 310
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Hit ne is no leve in our land/ that ludus therinne
Scholde more of hure mete /than mesure take
Forthei sounde we be seie/and sike in no time
Bute helthe have we hir/til we henne passe
To godus pay is our peple/in bettur point founde
Him to loven as hur lord /and like him to serve
Than fale othir folk ben /that fillen hure wombe
And nimen more than inow/whan no ned were
We maken no medisine/no no man prayen
With ony hathelene help /to helyn oure bodius
We han a sertaine somme /asingned of 3erus
Whan we schulle lese this lif/and laste no more
For we mowe tellen our time/whan the time fallus
For litil lengure a lud/liveth than an othir
But bi comminge of kynde/as hevene king demus
We schal doute the deth/whan the day fallus
Bi an ordre of oure kinde/whan we holde waxen
Whan mihte lakken our limus/and lesen our hete
We schulle forleten oure lif/and leve that the soule
To him that schop us to schap/ schal fare to blisse
For no cold that us cometh/in oure kinde age
We ne faren to no fir/our fingrus to warme
Of bodi hole we ben /and no bale fele
Ay we founden to fle/flechliche lustus
We maken thorou mekenesse/alle manir thingus
That miht us soile with sinne/sese in a while
I rede that the riche emperour/ful rathe that thou founde
To ovyrcomen enemis/that am je withinne
For haddest thou fenked the fon/that in thei flech dwellen
None mihte the now/nye withoute
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But thou fihtest with thi fon/that faren the biside
And hem that in thei bodi ben/ay berest with the
But if we ony enimis/withinne us aspie
We nolle sclepe in no sclowthe/til we hem sclain have
Therfor we al overcomen /that am us withinne
We ne have fere of no fon/that faren withoute
Ne we agayn hem do go/ne of no gome prince
Ne of no hathel undur hevene/any help seche
We ne doute none douhtie/ne no dede sterve
Ne we no wilne no win/of watur no of londe
With trene bowus we ben /on the body keverid
And us findeth the fhit/fode at oure nede
Of mylk have we miche whon/amongus our peple
That we no wante no wite/of wordliche fode
SDitfbttnujtf etibiteb to 5CIijcantia of fieee fetopij.
Whan we ludus in this land/liste to drinke
We tumen tid to flod/Thabeus is called
Thereof we taken a tast/what time that us nedeth
And herie the heie God/with herte and with tounge
What so we worchen in this worlde/or waken or slepe
Or in ertheliche ese/eten othur drinke
For his sake that it sente/sothli we worchin
To sustaine his servantis/as himsilf likus
We hopen have the lif/that come schal heraftur
And derely without deth/dure schal evere
Tale tende we non/that tumeth to harme
But hit be preched for prow/and proceed to goode
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We no spende no speche/but whan we speke weele
We ne sain but soth/and sesen by time
We no recche of no ricchesse/no renoun of landus
No catelus covaitise/ comyth at oure herte
For that is sothliche a sinne/that seggus haunteth
And to miche mischef/many men bringeth
A 1 we libben in love /and lothen envie
And hit paieth our peple/in povert to libbe
For we hit rekenen for riche /and redileche finden
That hit foleweth oure folk /til thei fare hennus
Ay ar we in pes/and armus forsaken
And to no wikkede werk/woned be we fare
Ther nis no lawe in oure land/ludus to chaste
For we no dede no don/domus to tholie
We holden hit a vertu/at hom in oure lande
Among the men of our march /mercy unknowe
For we ben meved to no man/mercy to grave
We ne gilte noht God /no no gome here
Wherefore we mosten have in minde/ mercy to crye
That God scholde of oure gilt /forgiven us the sinne
Of ony wikkede werk/that we wroute evyre
Ne we for sake of our sinne /no sacrifice maken
To oure galfule God /with gold nor with silver
As 3e dulfully don /to develus of paine
To make hem glad of 30ure gilt/and glose 30U here
AUe leccheries lust /us lotheth to founde
Or to bringe us in brigge/for to breke spouce
Or any misdede make /wherefore we miht aftur
Ben ypiniched in paine /and parte blisse
And thus we gaynsaie 30ure gilt /and 30ure godus false
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As je wolde fare by 3oure fon/that 3e fals knewe
We ben rihtful of red/and resoun alowen
Forthci ne se we no seg/sodainly deie
For we ne l^the noht our lif/with no luthur dede
Wherefore we scholde with schame/be schorted of daies
We don deie no cloth /of diverse heuys
No in no worschipful wede/oure wivus atiren
Wherefore a lud mihte like /to loven hem the bettere
Or thai fairere than afore /folk miht seme
So to hihten hem her /we holden hit sinne
To maken hem comelokur corn /than hur kynde askyth
Therefore thei haten to be hiht/on hed or on face
With ony wachinge of watnr/or ony werk ells
Or fonde with fals craft /hure face to enouie
For to bliken of hur ble/the blithure of chere
Or hem schenure to schene/than thei schape were
Of him that lente hem hur lif/and hure limus made
For they that craven by craft/ comelokur seme
Than thei ben kindeli coren/as hevene king likus
God scholde that him schop/schine by rihte
For his children hem to chese/that changede his schappus
For be he bum othur burde/that hure bodi hihten
Othirwise than it was /in this word schape
They gaynsain hure Savioure/that hem so made
And ben aschamed of his schap/and schewen hem ellus
Thou douhty doutede king /we don the to knowe
That oure bodies ne ben/in no bath wahche
We han while we here ben/hete of the sonne
And us bydewen aday/the dewus of hevene
We ben busy of no swink/nor no bum maken
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For to wirchen our wil/and wordliche serve
Us no liketh of no lud/lordschipe have
Non is stemere of stat/ne stouter than othir
Sin we ben bretheren of brod/brouht into this worde
Alle comen of a king/that kid is in blisse
Whi scholde any schalk/that God schop on erthe
Have maistrie of men /more than anothir
We ne han none hous bote holus/in the holou cavus
Undur hillus ful hie /to holden us inne
There cometh no wawe of the wind/no watur of the rainus
Hie holdus to bulde/be we not snelle
To legge lym othir ston/loth is us alle
Us ne liketh no lome/in oure land use
As othir erthliche men/usen aboute
We lin whan us sclepe list/lowe undur erthe
A1 withoute ony swink/of ertliche werkus
Swich housinge we han /to holde out the wederes
And leden therinne our lif/the lengthe of our daies
Whan God liketh from lif/lede us to blisse
We liggen doun in our den /there we ded worthen
Thanne is us graythed no grave /in the grounde dolven
But there we lin as we laie/whan we lif hadde
With us schineth every schalk/in schippus for to saile
For to winne on the watur /wordliche fode
For thei that sailen on the see/as we soth knowen
In gret peril ben iput/and perichen ful ofte
We ben lered in oure land /lore of no scole
Ne to no sience iset/us silue to wisse
That mihte us kenne in this kith /to carpen as wise
But that cometh us by kinde/we konne noht ellus
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We ne faren to no philojofrus/to fonden hure lorus
For ay longeth that lore /to lesinge and jangle
Alle oure sawus ben simple /that we soth tellen
And for to lie is us loth/or lutherly wirche
But swiche wordus of wise /we wilnen to lere
There nis no jargoun no jangle /ne juggemetis falce
Us ne schewith no schalk/schamfule tacchus
Wherewith we mihte misdo/or ony man gile
We ne loven in our land/no laik nor no mirthe
But whanne we meven our mynde/ mirthe to here
We raiken to oure romauncus/and reden the stormus
That oure eidrene on erthe/or this time wroute
And whan we tenden any tale /that tumeth to bourde
That were gaine for a gome/or good of to lauje
We sesen of solas/and sorwen in herte
And maken mouminge of mirthe /whan men scholde glade
Of othur wondrus we witen/in this word here
That lileth us to loken on/on the loft heie
We sen selkouthe thing /that is ta sain hevene
There as iem is of loft/and lisse to Gode
The sonne set in his cours/and the seve sterres
And alle that seggeus mowe/sen sithen on skurus
That to hure schappere hem schewen/schining rede
An sithen liht fro the loft/to the land caste
The side se we mow sen /set upon erthe
That in kinde colour /acordeth to purpre
But whan the watur with the wind /the wavus up casteth
And thouh hit tume any time /to tempest of windus
Hit ne awecheth no wawe/nor no watur rereth
As hit amongus 30U men /is many time founde
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That stive stormus of the wind/stiren up the wawus
But here whan the wind hath /his hugeste blastus
The clere watur he biclipth/and closeth hit inne
Ther inne sothli we sen/selcouthe kindus
Of the fletinge fihs/that in the fom lepen
There maken dolfinus dive /and diverce fihches
That there swimmen ful swithe/and swangen aboute
We han mirthe fill miche/in medus and feldus
There faire placus and plain /han plente of flourus
That sote.saveron til us/and with the siht clene
We ben as fulsom ifounde/as thou3 we fed were
Us is likful and lef/in landus to walke
There won walleth of watur /in the wellespringus
Miche wilne we wende/in the wodus thikke
For to rome under ris/that rif is of levus
There we mowe graspen on the grene/and gret joie here
Of brem briddene song /the braunchus alofte
This is oure costom of kinde/that we kythen alle
And deliten in no dede/that doth men to sinne
Sire emperour Alixandre/this am oure lawes
Bothe oure reule and our riht/that we the rede holde
?if thou our lif wole alowe/and oure lawe use
Hit schal the profite prince /whan thei pres faileth
Hit is noht long in us lud/thei hit loth seme
For Y have sent the my sonde /as thou theiself bade
But be thou nouht bolde king/balful no tened
That thou miht trystli trye/the treweste lawe
For we schulle munige the man/swiche manir lorus
That thou miht lihtliche lud/the beste lawe kenne
Whan thou hit wisliche wost/ wilne hit in herte
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And lothe thi lordschipe/and thi lif mende
Asie and Aufirik/and Europ the grete
Thou hast lowed to the lud/in a litil while
The lem of the sonneliht/thou lettest to schine
So brem bringest thou thi men /all in bryht armus
And the guldene ger/that thi gomus usen
With the blasinge ble/blenden the sonne
Thou hast robbed with thi rout /two riche strondus
There the gravel of the ground/was of gold ore
That on was called Erenus/and that othur Large
The peple callede Paccolus/that thou pore madest
So fale folewen the folk /to fonde thi heste
That with hure drinkinke drawht/whan thei drie thirsten
3e maken stinte of his strem/a stronde ful huge
That Nilus the noble flod/namned is wide
So miche boldest thou the man /of miht and of strenke
That thou miht over Oxian/with thin ost saile
So wis wenst thou the be/that thou by wit mihhest
Thorou thi maistrie miche /maken to sclepe
Tricerberus the helle hound /that holden is kene
Bothe wakrong and wikke/and wardain of paine
Je no fonde no fast /but fillen joure wombis
Eten evere whan je list/and in ese libben
Unkinde kithe je jou/to kille jour children
To queme qued fulle godus/that quenchen jour blisse
And to joure soverain of sinne/ sacrifice maken
With that unblissful blod/that thei bled haven
Miche maugre je maken /among many kingus
And grett werre in this world/to waste the peple
Many men upon molde/ful mek and ful simple
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Thorou the proude prince /ful proude ben woxe
3e wene winne noht inow/on this worde one
But jif je hevene might have /and holden hit alse
Michel gilte je gome/bi jour godus falce 550
As thei were woned in this word /to wirchen in hure live
For ensample bi my sawe/soth mow je fonge
Of Jubiter the joilese /jugged to paine
He was alosed in his lif/lechurous of kinde
That in his licamus lust/as a lie brente 555
He hadde while he here was /to hordom ieged
.Gret won in this word/ of wommen alive
Forthei je holde him a god/that in heile lengus
And that sorwful sinne/for his sake usen
Y prove hit by Proserpine /that je praisen alle 560
And holden godesse god /to gien jou here
Hure was lecherie luf/the while hue livede alse
And many lud by hure lay/hur lust to fulfille
Many men upon molde/made hure by slithe
To haunte hure in hordom/hur hoi liftime 565
Of hure tenful tach/je taken ensample
And ay wilnen hire wone/in werkus to fonde
$oto Ije jefparett) not 3tlijranbre to tefle l|ira of
governance.
Alle je usen unrith/and after that wirchen
3 e ben luther of jour lif/and lawus je chaunge
Of more make je avaunte/than je mow forthen t 570
Wis holde je no whi / but jif he wd conne
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Faire tempren his tounge/his tale to schew
Swiche matere of wit/minegeth jour tounge
But betere holde T a burn/that bereth him al stille
3 e gederen jou gret won/of gol and of silver
And miche likus jou lache/lordliche holdes
And sithen many servantis/30U silve to abowe
To be kecere ykid/than any kouth peple
And 3it Y live that 3e live/thorou lasse fode
Than other seggus that semen /simple in irthe
Of richesse and of renoun /romme be je kidde
And ben baldere ywist/than any bum elles
But oure kinde konninge/jou overcometh nouthe
In alle dedus that je don /in joure daies time
We witen weies ful wel/that je were alle
Bremliche ybrouht forth /and bred of that modur
That is stable to stonde/and stonus engendreth
And the erthe is called /that every man helpeth
Whan god demeth jou deie/jour daies to tine
Gravus of gret prys/3e graythe jou tUle
And but hit fair be and fin/folie je holden
To legge in jour licam / that lodileche is founde
And so 30ur bodies je buren/that bettur riht hadde
In rouh erthe to be reke/to roten hure bonus
And by the dedus that men don/to the dede bodies
Ludus keneth huo hem loven/to hure livus ende
We for love of the Lord/that we liven inne
None bestus iboren/balfulli kille
Ne no tidi atir/in templus araie
No figure of fin gold/fourme therinne
Wherefore the heie hevene God/heren us scholde
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Whan any bum to him bad/is bove graunde
But so folliche folk/ 30 ur fals godus alle
Wilfully worschipen/with wordliche godus
For thi scholde hasteli 30U here /and 30U help kithe 605
Whan 3 e greden 30 m* grace/to graunte jour wille
Whan 3 e for sake of 3 oure sinne/ sacrifice maken
And quellen any quik best /to queme the develus
3 e ne understonde nouht that stounde/the storie of this wordus
That God hereth no gome /but for his goode dedus 610
And for no bestene blod/that any bum quelleth
Nothir of kide nothir of calf/nothir of kild oxe
But he hereth every hathel/that hertely biddeth
And with mekenesse of minde/minegeth his nede
Godus wordliche word/as we wel trowen 615
Is sone sothliche of man /that in himsilf dwelleth
By which molde is ymaad/and man upon erthe
And al that weihes in this word /scholde with fare
A1 bestus ther by /that lif bere mowe
Ben sothliche isustained/as himsilf likus # 620
That ilke worthliche word/ we worschipen alle
And hit lelliche loven/as our lif likus
God is spedful in speche/and a spryt clene
Bothe blessed and blythe/that blendeth alle sorwe
He clameth nouht but clennesse/and clepeth to is joie 625
Clene mindede men /that meke ben founde
Wherefore we holde 30U folk/folus echone
That 3 e ne leven in that lord /that lengeth in blisse
And lede clanly 3 our lif/ in no luther wirche
As 3 e hath of us herd /holly the dedus 630
But 3 e in lechoures lust/al 30 ur lif spende
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And serve sory idolus/that 30U in synne brynge
With othir folies fale/je foulen 3our soulen
And so 3e duren in 30ur dede/til 3e ded wortheth
Thanne schulle we for 30ur sinne/sofire paine 635
For we unclene bi cleped/and eleven in 30ur sinne
There may 30W borewen of bale /no bost nor no pride
Ne no god that 3e given /to 30ur godus falce
Ne no sory sacrifice /that 3e so maken
With any bestene blod/that evire bum schadde 640
3 e ne herien nouht herteli/the heie God alone
That hevene holdeth and hath /to his hole regne
But al so fale falce godus /3e fonden to queme
As a bum bereth now /in his body membrys
For 3e liknen a lud/to a litil wordle 645
And this sawe 3e sain/sothliche echone
That al so many as a man /hath membrys yschape
Him falleth al so fale godus /faithfuly herie
And so 3e sacrifice don /to selkouthe fendus
For every lime that a lud/longeth to have 650
3e kythen carefule godus /and kallen hem nowthe
Aftur dedeus that thei dede/ diverse names
Michel holde 3e of miht/ Minerva the falce
For he foundede first /folies manye
And this is seggus 3our sawe/as 3e sain alle 65 5
Hue was engendred with gin /of Jubiterus hede
Forthei 3e holden hure wis/and hollyche segge
That hue the hilthe of the heed /hath for to kepe
The jandewin Jubiter /joyful 3e holde
For he was wrathful iwrouht/and wried in angur 660
Gomus holden him god /that gieth the herte
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For there ariseth in a renk/the rotus of wraythe
A god mihtful of mani/Martis je holden
For he was fihtere fel/and founderer of werre
He is alosed in lande/lord of the breste 665
For there the miht of a man /most is isene
For Mercurie miche spak/to mentaine jangle
3e holden him galful and god/and god of the tounge
For Herculus the endelese/that evere is in paine
Divisede here on his day/a dosain of wondrus 670
That je avowen verraie/and yertuus holden
That a man moste do /with mihte of his armus
A god holde }e him/helplich of grace
That hath jour armus to jeme/and may jou give strenke
For Bacus the bollere/that 3e abowen alle 675
Englaymed was in glotenye/and glad to be drounke
3e callen him kepere of the throte/and kinde god holden
And wis witiere of win/that alle won bryngus
Cupidus the corsede/that is in care punched
3e worchen al worschipe/and in this wise tellen 680
$ato fyt tefletfj Slfranbre of iitjtf maumenttie
That for he leccherie lovede/in his lif time
And that folie full/foundede on erthe
A bryht brenninge brond/he bereth on his hondis
And alle lechurus lust/of the lem tendeth
And so je sain that he is /a sothe god iproved 685
That hath the stomak in stat/stifly to kepe
For there the hete that men han/is holden withinne
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That enforceth the flech/folie to wirche
Also seggus je sain / that Ceres the falce
Is a goodesse god /and gieth the wombe
For hue tilede in hur time /on the touh erthe
And whete sothliche sew/or any seggus elles
Ful verrai of vertue/ Venus ye holden
And for hue lady was alosed/of leccherouse dedeus
3 e holden hure a goodesse god /that hath for to kepe
He proveth membrus of a man /that marke is of kingus
Juno the joilese/ 3 e juggen for noble
And weihus sain that he witeth/in his worde one
A spild spirit of the air/that may speke wondrus
And telle what bitide schal/of tene othir of welthe
3e leven alle in Appolin/and also 36 tellen
That for he medisine made /and minstrelus craftus
3 e holde hin giour ful good/and god of the handus
So ther leveth no lime/lasse no more
That in 3 our power is put /but parted to fendus
3e ne leven not on a Lord/ that lengus in hevene
That al the membrus of a man/made at His wille
And thou 3 3 e falce godus folk/founden to serve
Thei ne graunte no grace/but greven 30U ofte
And taken of 30U tribit/that traie is to paie
Of 30 ure offringus alle/ ofte in the 3 ere
To Martis the mithtelese/men often in time
A gret bor and a bold /as burnus han used
To Bacus the balful/raen bringen in temple
A kide as is costum /of comine peple
A fair pokok of pris/men paien to Juno
And him wirchen therwith/worschipe on erthe
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The offirin of Appolin/as 3 e alle knowe
Ys a swan swithe whit/swich as 3 e bryngen
3e schullen bi ordre of on us/oflren to Vectus 720
A fill derworthe douve/on his den take
Minerva men worschipen/in othir maner alse
And bringen hure a nihtbrid/a bakke or an oule
To Ceres the sorwful/ 3 e sacrifice maken
And carien bi costum/corn to hure temple 725
3e mensken alle Mercurie/with mirthe and with joie
And him a chalis fill chois /with good chere bringen
The hauter of Herculis/aile 3 e hihten
And hit spreden with sprainus/of springinge braunchus
Cupies the corsed/with comeliche flourus 730
3e herien fill hertely/and hihten is temple
Thus manye mih teles godus/and mo than Y telle
For the hope of hur help/ 3 e herien on erthe
And 3 it may ther no man/in any maner wise
With solepne sacrifice /serve hem at onus 735
But even wile of a wehy/his owene wone have
Be it bole othur bor/betur othur werse
Of swiche bestus that ben /of bumus Y of reed
Thei han miht upon molde/and of no mo thingus
Whi favere 3 e thanne falce godus/and folliche seggen 740
That thei han power of peple/that pacen on molde
Whan thei ne han miht of no mor/nor no maistire on erthe
But of hur owne offringe/and onliche of bestes
For 30 ur errours on erthe /sire emperour riche
And for the dedus undingne/that 3 e don alle 745
As 3 e ben worthei of wo/whan the word failus
3e schulle be punched and put/in paine for evere
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Jour godus ful of gile ben /that 3e so good holden
On hem is help of non harm/no hap of no grace
But bochours ben thei echon/30ur body to dismembre 750
And everich pinchen his part/there paine is unended
As many mihtelese godus /as 3e on molde serven
As fale painus in fir/30u Mlus to drie
For 30ur ydil idolus/don 30U ille wirche
Sum me to lechorus lust/30ur likinge turneth 755
Summe 30U strenkthen to strive /and straiten 30ur minde
And somme eggen in ese/to eten and to drinke
Thei bysette 30U so/in sinne and in gile
That 3e wirchen hur wil/and worchipen alle
And seggus for 3e so don/3e semen unwise 760
Hem to serven in sinne /that mowe no seg helpe
Thei beth unmihtful ymad/men for to wisse
And kunnot save hemself/fro sorwful painus
Whan 3e hem greden of grith/to graunt 30ur bone
Whether hey hit heren or nouht/to harme hit 30U turnus 765
Whan 3e hem praiere profire /3if they prest heren
Thei casten in 30ure consience / corsede thouhtous
And ludus 3if hem loth be/to listne 30ure bonus
Hit 30U norcheth an y/for thei 30U nouht heren
So whether thei graunte hit or gruche/thei greven 30U ofte 770
For everi time hit 30U turneth /to tene and to harme
Tho ben 30ure gostliche godous/that gon to do wirche
Aftur ludene lif/for hure luthur werkus
For thei schulle in this word /wirche for sinne
Whan that bumus are bured/that balfully wrouthe 775
Tokne of that tourment/tolde 30ure eldren
How wrethe scholde ben wrouht/for wrongful dedes
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And dul aftur the deth/30ur doctourus saide
That seggus scholde for sinne/suffre in this worde
And je ben sothli the same /of wham thei so tolde 780
That scholde lenge aftur lif/in lastinge paine
For 3if 3e seggus jou lif/ sothli bithenke
Wers wirchen no folk /than 3e wei3es alle
For sake of 3oure Savyour/3e ne soffre no paine
But liven in 30ure likinge/and lutherli wirchen 785
3e waken for wikkednesse/and worchen but ille
3e speden for to spille men /and spoucebreche fonden
3ou is lechurie luf/and liben with stalthe
To robbe men of hure riht/ful redy ben alle
3e ben glotounius gle/glad for to haunte 790
And han no mesure on molde/of mete ne of drynke
3e ben to the hellehond/holliche Hike
Triceberus the tenful/of wham I tolde have
Foure hedus ben on him /that hath but on wombe
And so it fareth by 30U folk /that fillen 30U silven 795
For alle the godus that 3e geten/of gomus upon erthe
Serven for to sustaine/30ure unsely wombe
Also 30ure docturus sain /in sawus fill olde
That an addre is in helle/that Thydra is called
To cache is covaitous/corsede soulus 800
And fonde he fewe othur fale/ful is he nevere
Thanne mow je ludus of lif/ be likned him tille
For 3e ben covaitouse kid /and kunne nouht blinne
But evere wenden to winne/wordliche godus
And al is bumus aboute/30ur body for to fede 805
Alle the folius folk /that 3e sain wirchen
Ben purchas of penance /whan 3e parte hennus
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To bale were 3e paune bore /for bannede werkus
That schulle schamly be schent/and schapen to paine
Thus Dindunus the dere king/enditeth his sonde 810
And Ood bysecheth to save /the soveraine prinse
Whan emperour Alixandre/with erene hit hirde
And tendede the tithinge/that Y told have
He was wroth for the writ/of wrong gan alose
His godus that he held/to gyen the peple 815
But noutheles anonriht/amed in his herte
Sone sente he again/his sel and his lettrus
Withoute tariynge tid/this tithingus come
To Dindimus the dere king /that the dite radde
Now lithus 3e that listene wele/the lettrus to the ende 820
For thus redely the rink/aradde the sonde
$oto 9Wijrantee gente an&nm to SDinttraust Bp Imre,
The athel king Alixandre/of armus alosed
That noble is and namekouth/and nevere man dradde
That grete god Amon/in graciouse timus
Bygat on Olimpias/the honorable quene 825
Ful derely to Dindimus /enditeth his sonde
And his sawe to the seg/saith in this wise
Jif alle the lorus that thou lud /in lettrus me sentest
Ben trewe to be trowen on/and trysty to leve
Thanne be ye syker to be saf/for sake of 30ure werkus 830
For 3e ben burnus of lif/best upon erthe
Jif 3e nouht wirche but wel/in this word here
Hit cometh 30U bi custum/so clanly to libbe
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Whi deme thanne that we don/no dede upon erthe
But sinne that is sorwful/oure soule to spille
Whi seth je seggus al so /that sinne 30 holden
Any werkus to wirche/of wordliche craftus
Whi be 3e ludus so lef/to lakke the werkus
That mankinde hath ymad/on molde to be used
3if hit be soth that je sain /hit semeth by 30ure dede
That 3e no given of no gome/no none godus trowe
Or 3e en[v]ye to hem han/and hatien hur sondus
For to libbe in 30m land /as ludus aboute
Many wondurful wonus/wisli we knowen
That 3e amongus 30U men /in 30ur march usen
3e telle us that 3e tende nauht/to tulthe the erthe
Ne place erie with plow/no plaunte winus
Ne bulde boldus an hih/for bumus to wonye
Ne non erthely note/nedfully wirchen
In that thou leredest me lud/that 3e no land erien
3 e ben exkused echon/for iren 30U wantus
Wherewith mihte 3e men/maken any boldus
Or tren plaunten in place /or any plow dryve
Whan 3e mow take no tol/to tilien on erthe
No swiche werkus to swinke/as othir swainus usen
Forthei bihovus 30U hathel/harde to libbe
And wo drie in this word/for wante and for nede
So mowe 3e ludus 30ur lif/leden as bestus
In gret mischef of mete/as 3e mote nede
Je witen wel whan a wolf/wanteth is fode.
That he ne fundeth no flech/to feden him uppe
Of the erthe he et/forellus he scholde
Be with hunger yholde/and happily sterve
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Thanne mow 3e weies to the wolf/ fill wel ben ylikned
That for 3e finde no fode/as othir folk usen 865
Swich hunger as 3e han/byhovus you tholie
And be 30U lef othir loth/libben in wante
Therefore no like no lud/of his luthur fare
No hope for his harde lif/to have no mede
For almusdede do 3e non /as 3e demen alle 870
But skarsete and skathe /unskilfully fonden
3 if we lengede in 30ure land/ful loth were oure bestus
To ben so simple of us siif/and suffre that tene
We scholde folewe othir folk/and fonden echone
To acorde of oure costom / with comme peple 875
But 3e han dainte in dul/30ure daies to spene
And ben ysustained so/ with sorwe in this worde
But 3e ben litil to alowe/of 30ure luthur fare
For nouht but nisete/nedful 30U makus
Joure owne folie folk/doth 30U ful ofte 880
In hungurus and in hard lif/to holde 30ure peple
Also 3e sain in 30ur sonde/that sothly 3oure wivus
Ne gon in no gay tyr/as gise is of othure
And that ludus in 3oure land /no lecherie haunten
But sparen alle spousebreche/the space of hure livus 885
And thou 3e wonde swich werk/me wondrus ful lite
How miht 3e lecherie love /or likinge have
Whan luthur fare hath alaid/30ur lustus echone
That 3e megre ben maad/with mischef and hungur
For 3e so simple ben seie/and semen so pore 890
Jou wantus wordliche won/30ur wivus to hihte
Therefore as bestus 3e ben /and of body chaste
Unmihty for mischef/to medle with burdus
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That nis no chari teus chois /so schast for to libbe
Sin je maugray 30 urmiht/mote hit withdrawe 895
Also 3 e sente us to saie/in the same time
Of othir manerus mo/miche for to lakke
That 3 e no stidie in no stounde/ne no stat wilne
Of clergie that clene is /to claimen in scole
And that 3 e mercy on molde/in no maner wilne 900
No mercy don to no man/amongus 30U founde
Thanne hit semeth by 3 oure sawe/ 3 if 3 e soth tellen
That kindely 30 ure consience/acordeth to bestus
For as bestes 3 e ben /by no skile reuled
Ne hem of kinde no cometh /no konninge of witte 905
So be 3 e ludus bylad/and laweles alse
That han no reward to riht/but redlese wirchen
But we faithful folk /that faren as wise
Ben ydemed to do/dedus of rihte
Forthy us kenneth our kinde/to acorde in trowthe 910
In swiche lawus to live /that longen to Gode
For to sowe and to sette/in the sad erthe
And othir wordliche werk/wisly to founde
Sin mankinde is ymaad/so michel and so rive
Among so perles a peple/ inpossible hit were 915
But somme were reuled by ryht/as resoun hit axeth
Hemself to sostaine/with selkowthe thingus
For to live by the land /as ludus ben schape
To have welthe aftur wo /as the word farus
For tenen sum time tid/and sumtime mirthe 920
And aftur swaginge of swine /swithe cometh joie
But so weihuus as 3 e witen/that weduringe chaungeth
Now broun and now briht/and now breme stormys
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So is the wit and the wil/of wordliche peple
In selkouthe sesounus/fain for to chaunge
Whan wedur waxeth al bryht/that wel is to like
Mirie ben men of mod /in minde and in herte
But whan the daies dunne ben /hit doth hem to moume
For riht of the sesoun/tliat semus unblithe
3it chaungeth wit of a weih/in otherwise alle
Thorou the grete degre/that groweth in age
For whan he is innocent /that ille can lite
Thanne hath he solas of himsilf/ simple to worthe
For betur likede him a bal/than a borou riche
And he is hardy to non harm /but hauntus his gamus
When he is eldure of age /that auht is his strenke
Thanne wol he proven him proud /and prys of him holde
And wexe wilde of his wil/and wikke to staunche
Whan he is fare so forth /fer in his age
That stoute is he stedefast/and stille of his herte
Huo wole a cherched child /chese for hardy
Or a 30 ung man meek /that mirthe covaiteth
Huo wolde wene that a weih/woxen on elde
Were wist for unstedefast/of word or of dede
Manie mirthus on molde/that othur men usen
3e leven thorou jour luthur wit /that longen to peple
Summe in riht that we sen /saver of mouthe
Summe in handlinge of hond/and heringe of ere
Summe that longen to a lud/of likinge smellus
And queminge of quaintise/that quencheth our tene
And in menskinge of mouth /mirthe we haven
In tendere touchinge of thing /and tastinge of swete
And sin we frekus ben so fre/that we frut haven
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And al that growus in the ground /of graciouce thingus
We finde fihch in the se/that us fedeth alle 955
We lachen likinge ynow/of the lof briddus
And 3if 3e wonde of that won/to winne 30ur fode
3e schulle be demed that 3e don/dispit to the kindus
Thanne schewe 3e to hur Schappere/schame for His sondus
That so schinden His schap/that He 30 U scheweth here 960
Or 36 han hertely hate/to oure hole peple
For we ben betere of our lif/and swich bote linden
Sin swiche godus as we sen/ben sen to us alle
And nouht so do 30U now/nedful bumus
Alle the dedus that 3e don/Y deme that it tumus 965
More to folie than to faith/of any ful witte
This sonde that Y said have /sire Alixandre riche
Let bringe with his brode sel/to Bragmanus prince
And rathe whan hit rad was/ful redy with othir
To this adoutede duk/Dindimus sente 970
Whan hit was sent to the seg/he dide hit sone red
Now how hit goodly bygan men givus tente
SDintrimuitf 0en&p& an anjttoere to 3Mirani>re ftp
letter
Dindimus the dere king /the docktour of wise
That lord of Bragmanus land/and ledere is holde
To emperour Alixandre /egrest of princes 975
That is grymmest ygrowe/and gretest of kingus
Joie graithus with grace/and gretinge of mouthe
As to the kiddeste ycore/that corone weldus
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We do the namkouthe king/to kenne and to here
That in this was tinge word/ we ne wone nouht evere
For erthe is nouht our eritage/that evere schal laste
Ne we ne ben nouht ibor/to abide therinne
But we ben pore pilegrimus/put in this worde
For we by destene of dome/schulle deth tholie
Thanne schulle we hie to the hous/that hie is in blysse
And karre to oure kinusme [n] /to kenne of oure fare
We ben ofset with no sinne/for unsely godus
Ne we sitte in no sete/ there sinne is yhanteth
But for oure kinde consience/that kenneth us to goode
We wonde wikkede werk/and wende fro skathe
We ne sain noukt king be thou sur/for sake of our pride
That we bolde godus ben/bumus to gie
Ne envye to hem han/ne hate in this worde
For we ne give us to no gilt/that scholde God wrathe
Ne nouht nien Him her/by niht no by day
God that alle gomus schop/and alle gode thingus
Made here upon molde/many manere choisus
For maad mihti hit nouht be /there men scholde dwelle
Withoute diverce dedus/of many done thingus
But al that badde is for a burn /here aboven erthe
Huo so hath chaunce to echue/and chese the betture
As men han wit for to wite/the wikke and the gode
He may nouht daime to be cleped/clene god of mihte
But Godus frend may the freke/frely be called
For we leden wel our lif/and loven to be simple
In 30ure sonde sire king/3e saide this wordus
That we alle godus am/as 30 deme nouthe
Or evere elles til hem /envye we have
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But the same that je so /by us silf trowe
Longeth ludus to 30u/that liven so in ese 1010
For je leden 30ure lif/in lordschipe and in myrthe
Of noble kinde for 3e come/and kid ben of Grece
In clene clothus 3e gon/and claimen to be riche
A1 30ure minde is on mirthe/and most upon goodus
3oure fingrus of fin gold/3e fullen with ryngus 1015
As is wommenus wone/for wordliche glose
But turnus be 3e ful sur/tho bostful dedus
Wherfore 3e holde 30U her/hiest on erthe
Schal 30U procre to pryde/and to no profit ellus
But skathe for 30ure unskile/whan 3e skapen hennus 1020
Gold fedeth no gome/ne no good soule
But we that selkouthus sen /and sothus mow knowe
And kenne the kinde of the gold /that corsed is founde
We faren alle to the flod/ there we finde mowe
Gret plente of gold /on the ground ligge 1025
Thanne we wollen of the watur/ wilfully drinke
And defoule with our fet/the fine gold schene
For gold thouh it gay be /hit gaynus ful lite
Of hard hongur and thirst /to helpe any peple
Have a man nevere so miche/mischef of hounger 1030
He may hit staunche with mete /and menden his paine
Thouh thirst dreche him with drouhthe/ drink may hem helpe
A litil wetinge of watur /his wo wol amende
5if gold were to a gome /so good of his kinde
Whan men hit helde in here hand/or hadde in here warde 1035
So scholde it be to a bum/bote of his nede
His corsede covaytise/coflye to sese
But now the more that a man /may therof winne
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The more 3emus he 3it/to jeme at his wille
And he is mensked the mor/amongus 30U alle
For wel lovus every lud/that liche is him tilie
We sain that 30ur sory godes/of wham 3e so helpe
Mow no manyr ded thing/ thorou hure miht hele
Je tenden michil in 30ur time/templus to bulde
And riche auterus rive/rere thereinne
Thanne founde 3e 30ur falce godus/with sorw for to here
And quellen for to quemen hem/of 30ur quike bestus
And in that same sacrifice /3e seggen the name
Of what bum that hit be/ that wolde bone have
Thin aldurfadur Alixandre/al this hath used
And alle kydde of 30ur kin/kenden this dedus
This is amongus 30U men/in this manere knowe
For thus 3e erren echon/in erthliche werkus
Wherefore seggus we sain /forsake of 30ur dedus
How lutherly 3e liven her/litil 3e knowen
How 3e with sinne be ofset/suffre ne nolle
That we bywepe in this word/30ur wikkede dedus
And miche thinketh us a man/mensketh anothur
That a gome for his gilt /goodly bywepeth
For ho so woneth in this word/and wol nouh y knowe
That him is demed to deie/and doom schal abide
Hit is riht that the rink/be reufully ended
And smite to the smethe ground/with a smart poudur
As on sinful was seie/that Salonienus hi3te
And evyl endid on erthe/and wrout ful foule
For the lud on his lif/alosed him so noble
That he hevene hadde miht /what handus to reche
For thei bothe for hur bost/ben ybrend nouthe
H H
1040
1045
1050
1055
1060
1065
Digitized by boo? le
234
With fir in the firhil/to fendus bytauhte
Thus mowe 3e finden in fablus/of philo3ofrus olde
That spoken how tho spild men/spenden hur time
Thus was the lettere of the lud/that he last sente
And Mascedonius mihty king/menskliche hit radde
Whan he the sonde hadde sethe/he sente forth newe
That was to Bragman ye-brouht/and prest for to rede
Thanne radde cofly the king /this kariede sonde
That thus tithinge tolde/and tauhte this wordus
3Wi]cartbrc petite Mtrimttf anot$ue letter
The emperour Alixandre/of armus alosed
That noble is and namekouth/and nevere man dradde
By godus chaunce that ys chose /chef over kingus
And of bumus ybore/ baldest of mihte
That Amon the grete god /in graciouse timus
Bygat on Olimpas/the onurable quene
Bykenneth king Dindimus/in kith there he dwellus
His a fledde sonde/and saith in this wise
3 e sain bumus that 3e ben /best echone
That in 30ure lothliche land/libben by kinde
For so seggus 3e ben /byset in an yle
That ther may comen in 30ur kith /non unkouthe peple
Ne 3e ne mowe of that march/in no manere wende
But be thou loth othur lef/lenge ther inne
And for 3e weihuus of that won /wende ne mowe
Wei alowe 3e 30ur lif/and 3our land alse
Al the nede and the noy/that 3e now suffren
1070
1075
1080
1085
1090
Digitized by boo? le
235
By asent of 30ursilf/3e sain that 3e diyen
And by the sawe that 3e sente /to segge of 30ure fare
Je am liche of 30ure lif/to swiche lothe bumus
That ben in dep prisoun don/al hure daies time
And han mirthus on molde/ missed ful clene
But lawe lereth us in skile/that 3e ben lethur alle
And mow for 30ure mischef/no mede have
For it cometh 30U of kinde/in care to libbe
Sin 3e wonen in that won/there wante is of goodus
Thanne seggus semeth hit nouht/that 3e so wirchen
For sake of the same god /that sittus in blisse
Therefor to wo that is wers/wenden 3e schulle
Whanne 3e parten fro this paine /that pinncheth 30U here
Thanne be 3e men upon molde /most to bewepe
That here to schame ben schape/and ay schulle aftur
3 it wolen wikkede men /in this word glade
Thou3 thei ben damned to dul/whan hure day endus
Tho that ludus in oure land/alosed am wise
3 e holde folus in faith /and falce of byleve
Hit longeth ludus til us/30ur lif to bywepe
And make for 30ure mischef/mouringe sichus
For wers faren no folk/founde upon erthe
Than frekus that no frut/han frely to libbe
God that juge is of joie/hath jugged 30U alle
To lenge aftur 30ur lif/in lastinge paine
And he hath marked 30U men/mischef on erthe
Though 3e wene 30U wise/and wittie of lorus
Therefore seggus as Y saide/for sake of 30ur dedus
Mede mo we 3e of God /in no manere fonge
3 e ben unblessed of lif/ for bumus Y wame
1095
1100
1105
1110
1115
1120
Digitized by boo? le
236
That 3e holden so her/holsome dedes
Oret wante is of wo /and wikkede paine
The whiche the heie godus haten/and hure hole peple
Now tende we to touche more/of this tale aftur
For of this egre emperour/thus endeth the lettere
Whan this makelese man/that most was adouted
The roume riden Alixandre /richest of kingus
Hadde legged there longe/and lettrus the while
Endited to Dindimus/as him dere thoute
There his burhus he bad/bulden of marbre
A piler sadliche ipicht/or he passe wolde
And that thei wrouhten a wrytte/and writen ther aboute
Hidur have Ic Alixandre /with myn help fare
WTian grave was the grie ston/the grime king rydus
And alle meven his men/fro the marke evene
^0 to ^Itjcanbts jntljt a pript of maslipl tif ctz
**********
1125
1130
1135
Digitized by boo? le
GLOSS ARIAL
INDEX.
Digitized by boo? le
The words quoted from the Bodleian Fragment are distinguished by
haying + prefixed to them.
Digitized by boo? le
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
A, one, 57.
A, have, 5159.
Aande, breath, 4001. See Ande.
Abaied, afraid, 103.
Abayste, to depress, terrify, 402. 3878.
4110. 4112.
Ableyd, made miserable, 402.
Adille, to earn, 3192.
Aghill, noble, 29.
Aglopened, surprised, 874.
Air, to turn, to go, 53. 135. 407. 695.
795. 843. 873. 942. 989.
A3E, fear, 169. 1459.
Ajt, owed, 918; ought, 717-
A3TE, possessed, 18.
Aldfader, a father-in-law, 5377-
Aldurfadur, an ancestor, f 1050.
Allire, Allies, of them all, 620, 1255.
Althire, of them all, 486.
Ame, to purpose, 309, to go, 1047, to
conjecture, 4105.
Amlare, a vagabond, 1705, 3543.
Analey, singly, 486.
And, than, 1258.
Ande, breath, 749. 4813. See Aande.
Ane, his ane, alone, 210.
Ane, to agree, 879.
Anelepy, one, single, 109. 5026.
An ely, only, 995.
Anente, concerning, 735. 2716.
Angirley, passionately, 972. 1726.
Are, mercy, 5362.
AR3ED, afraid, 3607- 3874 5 Me AR3ES,
I am afraid, 537-
Arly, early, 350. 351.
Asald, an ass, 1928.
Asaleny, a little ass, (?) 1705.
Askib, ashes, 4181.
Asperley, sharply, 1088.
At, who, sing . 101. 197* 349. 1203.
plur. 10. 199. 1227. when, 636. 1216.
which, sing. 468. 683. 1 290 .plur. 202.
At, that, 100. 346. 525. 1192.
At, to, 636. 4310.
Atame, to pierce, 3043.
Atflee, to fly away, 988.
Athil, noble, 17* 40. 167* See Aghill.
Atlede, attempted to go, +15.
Atter, poison, 1930.
Atterand, poisoning, 4199.
Attrid, poisoned, 2455.
Atwete, to know, 1103.
Atwind, to depart, 1949. 3248.
Auht, increased, t 936.
Aunter, doubt, 538.
Authly, fearfully ( ? ) 3235.
Awe, became, behoved, 868.
Ayndain, consisting of breath, ( ? )
2307.
Digitized by boo? le
240
GLOSBARIAL INDEX.
Badome ( ? ) 4869.
Badbiche (? ) 1782.
Baiste, to terrify, 2146. 2447. 4157*
Baistell, a fortress, 1161. 1339.
Baisting, fear, 2016.
Bakke, a bat,t 723.
Bale, fire, 2231.
Bale, sorrow, 396. 2444.
Balefully, sorrowfully, 155.
Bale-nakid, stark-naked, 4126.
Balgh, a bladder; Balgh-brade,
broad as a bladder, 4923.
Bane, a murderer, 969. 3249. 5377*
Baratour, a champion, 1799. 2158.
Baraute, strife, 894. See Baret.
Bare, a boar, 610.
Baret, strife, 527.
Barme, the bosom, 4812.
Barmeken, a fortress, 1301.
Barne, a child, 396. 585. 597-
Bast, the stem of the linden tree ( ? )
1339.
Bathire, of them both, 3947.
Battes, flocks, 4167-
Bawnand ( ? ) 4907.
Bayite, obedient, 323.
Bayst, frightened, 467-
Bedelle, divided, 4097.
Bees, dwellings, 2337.
Bees, will be, 892.
Beglomrde, deceived, 417.
Beheryde, praised, 1616.
Belyfe, immediately, 382.
Bele-chiste, the womb, 423. (cf. 386.)
Beme, a trumpet, 1387. 2616. 3039.
Benere, more appropriate, 1715.
Bere, noise, 489.
Berne, a man, 157*
Berynes, a grave, 5592.
Besom, a broom, 320.
Bicchid ( ? ) 4839.
Bigg, to build, 2215. 2256.
Bigly, respectfully, 423.
Bild, a building, 1080. 1297.1338. 2926.
Bilding, encouragement, 1797-
Eire, impetus, 711.
Blaa, livid, 559.
Blajt, whitened, 1559.
Blan, stopped, 381. 1228.
Bland, in, together, 2786.
Blason, a fragment, 787*
Bleant, a bluish covering, 4912.
Blee, colour, complexion, 394 . 466.
Blend, blinded, 105.
Blesnand, flashing, 562. 802. 4081 ( ? )
4812 (?)
Bliken, to make fair,+ 411.
Blickenand, glancing. 604.
Blische, a glance, 606.
Blische, to glance, 872. 984. 1338.
5608.
Blonk, a horse, 767- 886. 928. 1222.
2057. 2172.
Blothir, to choke, 970.
Bobaunce, presumption, 2016.
Bobb, a branch, 4777-
Bod, rest, 547.
Bodword, a message, 48. 1458.
B03ES, bends, goes, 699.
Boller, a drunkard, t 675.
Bolne, to swell, 394.
Bordren, made of boards, 787*
Bore, one born, a child, 590.
Boris (?) 556.
Bose, behoves, 1927- 2309. 2503. 3299.
Bose, behoof, 4242.
Bote, remedy, 137- 160.
Boune, ready, 870.
Bourd, a jest,t 469 5 O bourde, in
jest, 462.
Bowe, to come, 256. 534.
Brag, strife, ( ? ) 4320.
Bragging, noise, 3966.
Braide, a sudden attack, 381. 527*
Digitized by
Google
GLOB8ARIAL INDEX.
241
Braidib, rushes, 496. 842. 928.
Braidis, unfolds, 774. (See Outbred.)
Brait, drew, 802.
Brant, upright, 3649.
Brast, burst, 872.
Brath, anger, 1220. 1744. 1956. 5366.
Brathly, in anger, 1214. 2211.
Bre, to tease, to vex, 462.
Bre, brow, countenance, 496.
Bredfull, full to the brim, 4090. See
Bretfull.
Breggis, abridges, 3290. See Brigg.
Breme, fierce, keen, 610. 2146. 4002.
Bremely, keenly, sharply, 969. 1805.
1828.
Brene, 606, read Breve, which see.
Breneid, provided with breastplates, 66.
Brbny, mail, 915. 1247. 1295. 2214.
(cf. 2980.)
Bretfull, quite full, 1548. See Bred-
full.
Bretne, to cut to pieces, destroy, kill,
1263. 1307. 2256. 2479.
Breve, to record, 984. 1172.
Brigg, to abridge, 3804.
Brigg, strife, +393.
Brille, the beryll ( ? ) 5136.
Brim, fierce, 496.
Brixbille, to break, 4663.
Brode, a child, 1929.
Brosten, broken, 789.
Bud, behoved, 3275.
Burde, behoved, 510. 1966. 4397*
Burde, play, 2500.
Buse, behoves, 1808. 3355. 3359.
Buske, to prepare, 373. 774. 1511.
Buxsom, obedient, 323.
Caire> to turn, 859. 887- 889. 1501.
Carpe, to talk, 108. 230.
Cavel, a fragment, 799.
Chavele, ( ? ) 4924. Perhaps an error
I I
for Chanell, hoary. See Roquefort, v .
Chenu.
Chavill, the jaw, 3633. 3697. 4985.
Che8bolles, the poppy, 1985.
Chesses ( ? ) 1985. Perhaps an error
of the scribe for Cheffes, heads.
Cheve, to thrive, 655. 2379.
Chevelere, hair, 4924.
Chever, more prosperous, 1882.
Claggid, stuck, 5428.
Cleke, to snatch, 282. 842. 2937.
Cleke, a snatch, 2163.
Clepe, to call, 533.
Cocard, a foolish fellow, 4473.
Cocken, to fight, 2042. 3170. 3312.
4014.
Coddis, pillows, 4916.
Cof, quickly, +42.
Cqfli, Cofliche, quickly, +48. +64.
+ 1076 .
Coppis, spider 8, 3301.
Corven, something carved, 129.
Coth, disease, 2815.
Cowdrife, cool, 4098.
Cratone, elevated, 3079. See Roque-
fort, v. Crestine.
Day-raw, the dawning, 392.
Demerlayk, deception, 414.
Derfe, powerful, 2091. 2140. 2607.
Dese, the high-table, 47* 479. 902.
Dewess, a goddess, 3556. 4516. 5115.
Dewus, avails, 4439.
Deyne, to think worthy, 4007 5 deyne
with, to despise, 4580.
Donesman, a noble, 2906. 3203.
Doukand, diving, 4091.
Douth, nobility, 1647* 2100. 2349.
Dowe, to be able, 4059.
Drabland, trailing, 232.
Draffe, drove, dashed, 487.
Dragonhame, dragon-covering, 487.
Digitized by boo? le
242
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Dreche, to drench, 1106. 4942. +1032.
Dreie, to suffer, 531. +857.
Dre 3E, tedious, 2091 .
Drepar, a slayer, 3423.
Drepe, to kill, 1233. 1777* 3170.
DR13 T, o, at a slow pace, 3869.
DR13TEN, the Lord, 1260. 1472. 3556.
5115. 5119.
Dritts, gods, 2124.
Duals, to poison, 5027.
Duebb. See Dewebb.
Dute, afraid, 3556.
Ebland, among, between, 160. 3724.
3911. 4024.
Ee, water, 5465.
Eftirsons, soon after, 408.
Egging, influence, 2409.
Eld, a period of life, 657 ; old age, 316.
1001 .
Eld. See Neld.
Eldere, rather, 1016. See Helder.
Elike, ever alike, constantly, 340. 560.
Elkend, (? ) 164.
Ellyne, an ell, 800.
Emell, among, mutually, 4264.
Enentes, concerning, 3246.
Englayme, to cloy, 4669. +676.
Erd, the earth, 551. 975.
Erdis, buries, 975.
Erdit, dwelt, 2681.
Erthid, buried, 588.
Ertid, excited, 2409.
Erve, possession ( ? ) 340.
Estir, abode, 2693.
Ethi 8, swears ( ? ) 340.
Ettil, to attempt, 1157. 1819. 2419.
2484. 2829. 3166.
Ettillis, attempts, 15.
Everid, ruled (?) 1132.
Fage, to make happy, 4670.
Faine, to cause to rejoice, 2.
Falowis, grows discoloured, 5309.
Fandis, tries, 376.
Fangr, to take, 110, 411.
Fare. See Ferk.
Farne, gone, 216.
Fax, hair, 601.
Fay. See Fey.
Felsen, to cherish, 829. 4670. 5321.
Fenne, clay, 4357.
Ferd, fear, 136.
Ferd8Chip, fear, 988.
Fere, a companion, 637 ; husband, 397 ;
wife, 434.
Ferk, Fark, to go, 545. 766 . 926.+ 300.
Ferly, a wonder, 395.
Ferly, to wonder. 2229.
Ferly, wonderfully, 380.
Ferre, further, 633.
Ferrom, on, at a distance, 5521.
Fete, the construction (?) 30.
Fetherhame, a feather-covering, 380.
2710. 3695.
Fettle, to prepare, 626. 2995.
Fewtire, the lance-rest, 2621.
Fey, Fay, at the point of death, 591.
792. 1034. 2153. 4019.
Flaggis, flakes, 4166.
Flanes, arrows, 2210. 3046. 5449.
Flaw, a flake, 1756.
Flay, to put to flight, 1 10 . 5449.
Flakirs, flutters, 505.
Fleme, to banish, 299.
Flett, a hall, 821.
Fli 3 T-loomes, instruments for flight,
2710.
Flosches, pools, 2049.
Flote, a band, company, 770. 1210.
1581. 1758. 2264.
Fode, a person, 270.
Fold, the earth, 3, 251.
Fon, foes, +339, 341.
Digitized by boo? le
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
243
Force, matter, consequence, 471*
FORFE3TIL8, becomes discomposed, 4402.
Forben, frozen, 2883.
Forthing-dole. the fourth part, 3845.
Forthinkes, repents, 1464,
Fortoppe, forehead, 318.
Forwart, to promise, 15.
Frayne, to ask, 267* 457* 072.
Freke, a man, 270. 360.
Freely, speedily, 1795.
Frely, noble, 270.
Frithman, an envoy, 5598.
Fulsum, satisfied, +497.
Fulth, plenty, 2171.
Gale, to speak, 2257.
Gale, corn-sedge, 4095.
Galfull, lustfull, +389.
Galt, a hog, 4743.
Gang, to go, 1267.
G arsons, rewards, 1074. 1662.
Gast, a spirit, 4066.
Gattes, roads, 143.
Gaynest, readiest, 1137*
Gaynes, us gaynes, it avails us, 181.+
1028.
Ger, to cause, 191, 1219. 4443.
Gett, procreation, 576 ; a child, 391.
435. 473.
Gille - stremes, mountain torrents,
3232.
Gilt, to commit a fault, 471.
Ginge, an assemblage, 2038. 2435.
2674.
Giour, a guide, +703.
Gird, to strike, 796 ; to gush, 3232.
Girdill, to give up the, 181; to reche
up the, 758 ; to submit.
Glaam, a murmur, 5505.
G laden, sedge, sword-grass, 4095.
Gladen, (?) 131.
Glaver, a chattering, 5505.
Gledis, embers, 226. 2474. 3627.
Glesenand, glancing, 603.
Glett, slime, 4491. 4517-
Gliffe, to glance, 4600.
Glode (?) 1334.
Glorand, staring, 4553. 4729.
Gnai 8TES, gnashes, 5322.
Gome, a man, 391.
Graines, pointed rocks, 3376.
Graithe, to prepare, 131. 2873.
Graithe, ready, 162.
Graithly, readily, 201.
Gre, a step, degree, 535. 818. 994.
Grege, a grigg (?) 1753.
Greme, anger, 4158.
Grete, to weep, 973. 1285. 4371. 5043.
Greting, weeping, 3839.
Grew, a minute particle, 3271.
Grid, a pang, 544.
Gripp, a spasm, 544.
Grith, protection, +764.
Gro, keen, 3839.
Grofe, cave, 5395.
Grove, to dig, 4743.
Grovelings, recumbent, 5277*
Grune, ground, 338.
Gurd, a cup ( ? ) 5702.
Hairs, hoary, 776. See Hare.
Hald, firm, 1075.
Halidom, a shrine for relics, 1466.
Hallis, corners, 4149.
Halows, saints, 4915.
Hals, the neck, 2654.
Hame, a dwelling, 3229.
Hames, covering, plumage, 4987.
Handquile, a brief space of time, 3261.
3291.
Hare, to grow hoary, 1009.
Hare, hoary, JO. See Haire.
Hathill, a noble, 84. 1102.
Hatill, hateful, 1945.
Digitized by boo? le
244
GLOB8ARIAL INDEX.
Hatter, attire, 4119.
Hatter, savage, 490.
Hatterly, savagely, 264. 803.
He, she, +654. 698.
Heer ( ? ) 776.
Held, to bow, 227. 726.
Helder, rather, 2714. See Eldere.
Hellid, poured, 3814.
Hendlaike, courtesy, 2715. SeeHiNDE-
LAIKE.
Here, a lord, 2920.
Here, to honour, +1046.
Here, an army, 820. 1256.
Here-wedis, armour, 1010.
Herne-panne, a brain-pan, a skull,
1713. 1771.
Hernes, brains, 839.
Herre, higher, 2364.
Hersed, praised, 2200. 2498.
Hery, to praise, 2200. +358.
Heste, a promise, 1075.
Hethen, from hence, 4937.
Hethenward, from hence, 734.
Hethinge, scorn, 1714. 1869.
Hetter, bold, 615.
Hetterly, energetically, 669. 678.
Hevydman, chief man, 441.
Hie, to honour, 329.
Hihten, to honor, adorn, +406. 408.
418.
Hijtild, ornamented, 1541. 4541. 4970.
5128.
Hild, to cover, 1010.
Hild, to bend, 3102 ; to pour, 3212.
Hild, covered, 146. 5242.
Hindelaikk, courtesy, 615. See Hend-
laike.
Hine, hence, 4457.
Hine, a retinue, 2220.
Hirn, a comer, 3215.
Hoder (?) 5242.
Holtes, woods, 776.
Home, a covering, 27*
Honest (?) 3792.
Hoo, cease, 2835.
Hope, to expect, 935. 3549.
Hotter, contempt, 1714.
Hove, to tarry, 2890. 3261.
Hoven, exalted, 3864.
Hue, she, +656.
Hunyschist ( ? ) 3004.
Hurkils, nestles, 504.
Ilk, the same, 350.
Ithis, waters, 63. See Ythk.
Iwis, certainly, 203.
Jafule, tribute, 4412.
Jandewin ( ? ) +659.
Japid, deceived, 4416.
Japis, tricks, 43. 339. 4412.
Kaire, to turn, to go, 153. 828.
Karre, to turn, +886.
Kelle-wyse, in the fashion of a net,
3301.
Kellis, network-collars, 4601.
Kempe, a warrior, 2216. 5500.
Kidd, known, 33.
Kixdil, to be born, 696.
Kindlaike, kindness, 2718.
Kinlen, to resound, 775.
Kiste, a chest, 1043. 4358; a coffin,
3149.
Kithe, kindred, 136. 144.
Kithe, to manifest, 1021.
Knew, informed, 2872.
Ladisman, a guide, 4341, 4968.
Laghe, low, 3986.
Laike, to play, 1770.
Laike, play, 385. 644. 1761. +465.
Laire, clay, mortar, 4446. 5089.
Laite, to seek, 153. 372. 2341.
I1A3T, took, 77* 331.
Digitized by boo? le
GLOSSARIAL INDEX,
245
Lasch, to draw, 891 ; to dart, 553.
Late, manner, aspect, 152. 491. 4385.
Lede, a man, 7- 42.
Lely, truly, 880.
Lemman, one beloved, 7*
Lend, to go, 379. 393. 1980; to tarry,
221. 573. 858.
Leng, to tarry, 372.
Lere, body, 379.
Lesing, a lesson, 4.
Lete, to exhibit, 491.
Leth, to listen, 447 L
Lethire, wicked, 2445.
Lexis, linxes ( ? ) 3574.
Licham, the body, +492.
Liche, the body, 141. 3232.
Lift, the sky, 4175.
Ligge, to lie, 345.
Lileth ( ? ) +474.
Litt, to delay, 101.
Limp, to happen, 300. 1881. 2060. 2092.
2162. 2220. 3298.
Lin, linen, 141.
Lin, to remain, +441. 448.
Lire, the flesh, 3943.
Lishe, to please, +476.
Lite, a few, 1024. 2128. 2253. 2306.
Lite, to mock (? ) 1754. +732.
Lithe, to listen, 4. 1650. 5024.
Lithe, to bend, submit, 3755 ; subdue,
4785.
Littes, dyes, 4337.
Littillaik, littleness, 1707. 2505. 2706.
Lofe, to praise, 259. 658. See Love.
Lofe, praise, 644.
Loove, the hand, 2569. See Love.
Lorell, a mean fellow, 1760.
Lose, praise, 2505. +221.
Love, to praise, 458. See Lofe.
Love, the hand, 2067- See Loove.
Loute, to bow to, 369.
Lud, a man, +205. 645.
Ludene, human, +773.
Lurkard, a sneaking fellow, 3544.
Mayneiy, powerfully, 339.
Malstrid, entranced (?) 1270. See Sir
F. Madden’s Glossary to William and
the Werwolf, v. Malskrid.
Mangery, an entertainment, 838.
Margone, sullenness, 628.
Marks, a boundary, 1138. SeeMsRCHE.
Market ( ? ) 421.
Medilerthe, the earth, 5526.
Meihe, a tribe, 3605. 3620.
Mekill, great, 215.
Mele, to speak, 147. 2078.
Melle, to meddle, 735. 5743.
Menske, honour, 1237. 1746.
Menske, to honour, 4493. 4592. 5343.
Menskfulle, honourable, 2953.
Menskliche, honorably, +1073.
Merche, a limit, 97* 4632.
Merke, darkness, 374.
Merre, a boundary, 211.
Merre, to be sad, 325.
Mete, to march, 143. 455. 564.
Methe, pity, 147. 816. 1981. 3103.
4325.
Metyn, advanced, 374. See Mete.
Mett, measurement, 25.
Michare, a thief, 3542.
Min, to bear in mind, 2506.
Minegeth, mentions, +573. 614.
Minne, to mention, 245. 565.
Mintes, points, 1089.
Mister, need, 1462.
Mister, to want, 4282.
Mold, earth, 550.
Molle, labour, 628.
Mare, must, 691.
Morsure, biting, 4089.
Morth, murder, 1279.
Moss, to muse, 333.
Digitized by boo? le
246
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Mote, a building, 3219. 3325. 3833.
Munije, to teach, +514.
Na, no, 647*
Namecouthe, celebrated, +823. +979.
Nayte, to use, 2518. 4342.
Neb, the face, 807. 3941. 4520.
Nekard, a mean person, 1742.
NE3E, to approach, 324. 396.
Neld, a needle, 1370.
Nerre, nearer, 590. 1595.
Neven, to name, 76. 260.
Next, nearest, 5049. 5078.
Nifils, trifles ( ? ) 3808.
N13TERTALE, the night season, 324.
Nik, to deny, 2339.
Nikid ( ? ) 3936.
Ningkiling, an imitation, 2968.
Nite, nothing of, 1460.
Norcheth, paineth not, +769.
Note, use, practice, 324.
Nouche, an ornament, 3135.
Nowte, cattle, 3824.
O, of, 276.
Odd, illustrious, 27* 189. 2121. 2321.
Odly, nobly, 275.
Oferrom, afar off, 397*
O3EFUL, awe-inspiring, 16.
Olle ( ? ) 1861. See Osse ( ? ).
Onane, at once, 79, 191.
Osse, to offer, 2263. 2307*
Ossinge, an offering, an attempt, 731.
868 .
OVER3EDE, overpassed, 350.
Overlaike, a failure, 1861. 3102.
Paire, to injure, 74.
Paschis, breaks, 2298.
Pellid, threw, 11 7.
Pertly, openly, 255.
Pik, pitch, 4173*
Pike, a pointed hill, 4817.
P13T, pitched, 194. 2130.
Planere, flat, 4139.
PL13T, danger, 4683. 4951.
Porris, pushes, 5561.
Prik (?) 45.
Purely, entirely, 187*
Quedfulle, full of wickedness, +541.
Quethen, from whence, 5217.
Quile, a hand-quile, a short space of
time, a set-quile, a given space, 249.
546.
Quirr, a whirl, 560.
Quirris, rushes, 1556.
Qwater, a whirling, 560.
Qweryns ( ? ) 3003.
Qwill, until, 507.
Qwitsumnes, retribution, 3304.
Rad, quickly, 2428.
Radly, quickly, 409. 430. 1354. 1382.
1494. 1486.
Raile, to ornament, 5129.
Raime, to disturb, 177- 1940. 2378.
2488.
Raithe, to hasten, 1453.
Rake, a track, 3384. 5071.
Raxbil, to stretch, 4930.
Reche, to explain, 1354.
Redd, advised, 1040.
Redd, afraid, 1510.
Redell, a canopy, 4930.
Refe, to plunder, 5154. 5179.
Reke, extended, +594.
Rekenly, like a prince, 2354.
Rekenthe, a chain, 5543.
Rekill, to smoke, 566.
Rekils, incense, 4978.
Rekyn, to govern, 21.
Remes, makes a noise, 2900.
Renge, a man, 460. See Renk.
Digitized by
Google
6LOS8ARIAL INDEX.
247
Renysche, noble, 2943.
Renyschely, nobly, 4931.
Rbnyst, bold, 387.
Renk, a man, 21. 177- 958. 2166.
Rerid, a noise, 387- 458. 2900.
Resche, a rush, 4127-
Resild, rough, 4127.
Rige, the back, 2973.
Rise, a branch, 3859.
Risom, twigs ( ? ) 3061.
Rope, tore, 638.
Rome, to roar, 612,
Ropand, dropping, 4177-
Rose, to praise, 4314. 5123.
Rotillyng, shaking, perturbation, 934.
Roune, speech, 244.
Rounsy, a horse, 81 7.
Rowste, noise, 488.
Ruyde, swift, 5596.
Sa, so, 531. 538.
Sacthell, a wretch, 716.
Saines, nets, 4271.
Sa 3 till, to agree, 865.
Sake, contention, 3214. +388.
Sale, a hall, 48. 222.
Same, to collect, 51. 1026. 5614. See
Sammen.
Same, together, 175.
Samen, together, 1550. See Unsamen.
Sammen, to collect, 1520. 3169. See
Samen.
Sand, a message, 890.
Sandism an, a messenger, 1 1 70.
Sake, sore, 531.
Saude, to hire, 3169.
Scaild, To-, entirely separated, 4151.
Schalk, a man, 469. 926. 1*432.
Schard, clothed, 4676.
Schathill, painful, 2992. 4802.
Schavaldry, meanness, 3372.
Schaw, a wood, 4732.
Schellis, huts, 4050.
Schemerand, glittering, 483.
Schendirhand ( ? ) 780.
Schirkind, caused to fly, 4815.
Scho, she, 267. 268. 526.527.531.532.
Schonderhede, slaughtered, 2048.
Schont, a jest, 469.
Schop, created, 432.
Schount, to escape, 180. 2143.
Scroude, a vestment, 483.
Sckenfet, discomfited, 4802.
Scoghe, a wood, 3916.
Scrike, a shriek, 4733.
Seg, a man, 34. 797* 2620.
Sege, a seat, 236. 262.
Seie, to bend, recline, 980. 2057-
Sekir, sure, 763.
Selcuthly, wonderfully, 1022.
Sele, happiness, 249. 4548.
Selfe, self-same, 498.
Selle, marvellous, 89. 1732.
Selly, a wonder, 570.
Sere, different, 86. 277*
Serelepy, several, 4441. 4522. 4893.
5126.
Serkis, shirts, 4340.
Sewe, to follow, 686.
Shalkes, servants, soldiers, 1391.
Sibb, related by blood, 397. 586. 61 7 .
4493.
Sichus, sighs, tH 15.
Side, long, wide, 1924. +481.
Silb, to turn, to go, ill. 161. 335. 698.
Sindide, burnt, 2236.
Site, lamentation, 182. 546.
Skathill. See Schathill.
Skelp, to whip, 1924.
Skbre, fright, 4732.
Skerrid, frightened, 4802.
Skewis, the shadows, 561.
Skyft, to shift, change, 467. 4622 ; to
depart, 5040.
Digitized by boo? le
248
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
Skire, bright, 467. 1924.
Skirmand, piercing, 5158.
Skitly, speedily, 5041.
Skowis, woods, 5158.
Skurus, tempests ( ? ) +478.
Slake, to quench, 857.
Slavyn, a rough cloke, 1925.
Sle 3T, a craft, 38.
Sletes, moves, 380.
Slike, such like, 38. 531.
Snape ( ? ) 1560.
Snaypid, slain, cut to pieces ( ? ) 3633.
3996.
Snapir, to stumble, 847-
Snatirs, reels (?) 3996.
Snelle, keen, 3996. +437.
Snippand, cutting, 1560.
Solow, a ploughshare, +295.
Solp, swallow, 4293.
Some, a collection, retinue, 62. 83. 924.
Soo (?) 3822. 3912. 4185.
Sote, sweet, +128. 496.
Spakly, quickly, 786. 2975.
Sparis, sparks, 2975.
Sparth, a battle-axe, 1403.
Spere, to shut, 1466. 5495.
Spir, to ask, 236. 2178. 3841.
Spon, ( ? ) 5468.
Spousebreche, adultery, +885.
Sprote, a splinter, 790.
Spurnes, dashes, 786.
Stad, placed, 498.
Staffull, full to overflowing, 1543.
4897.
Stalle, to place, 185. 589.
Staunke, a pond, 3855. 3919. 3924.
Stedd, to place, 3978.
Stedille, to cause to stand, 3978.
Stee, a ladder, 2481.
Steke, to shut, 2139. See Stoken.
Steke, to place, 683.
Stele-bow, a saddle, 778.
Steme, to speak, 2480. 5302.
Sterne, a star, 678. 684. 728. 2480.
Steven, the voice, 252. 61 1.
Stie, a ladder, 1437*
Stie, a path, 5064.
ST13E, ascended, 3468.
Sti}t, placed, 5386.
ST 13 TLE, to place firmly, 195. 589. 2298.
Stoken, closed, 1081. 2201. See Steke.
Stoure, battle, 452. 498.
Stra 3 TIlle ( ? ) 4838. See Sti 3 till.
STRE 3T, stretched, 452.
STR13TLE, to establish, 3468.
Strinde, progeny. 5105.
Struble, to disturb, 856.
Sturb, to disturb, 513.
Sturt, strife, 3759.
Sturten, to disturb, 3759.
Sullepe, only true ( ? ) 4306.
Swayfe, a slash, 806.
Swapp, to cut, 957. 1232.
Sware, to answer, 674.
Swelino, squeeling, 4113.
Swellis, bums, 4182.
Swelm, heat, 750.
Swemyle, like one fainting ( ? ) 156.
Swepe, course of life, 248.
Swete, life ( ? ) 3069.
Swevene, a dream, 248. 353.
Swike, to deceive, 5000.
Swire, the neck, 779. 4508.
SW03E, a murmur, 5020.
Tacchus, manners, +463.
Taite, fear, 1208 ; dispute, 3980.
Tame, to pierce, 2622.
Tang, to sting, 3638. 3887. 4798.
Taunde, to dye cloth, 4336.
Taried, harmed, +132.
TE3T, approached, 525. 649. 2174.
Teld, a tent, 552. 1159.
Tblded, built, 1159.
Digitized by
Google
GLOSSARIAL INDEX.
249
Tendeth, inflameth, f684.
Tene, sorrow, 140. 853.
Tenful, sorrowful, t793.
Tent, held, 3318.
Tere, wearying, 150. 1404. 4767*
Ter ed, wearied, 1009.
Terne, a mountain lake, 3861.
Tha, those, 12.
Tharve, to need, to want, 2709. 2859.
3890.
Thede, a land, nation, 1803. 2494. 3825.
3890.
There, where, 211.
Thester, dark, 4134. 4804.
Thester, to grow dark, 4628.
Thethen, from thence, 1068. 1076.
5432.
Thine, thence, 3849. 4076.
Thire, there, 347- 660. 1088.
Thofe, although, 254. 471.
Thole, to suffer, 529. 539.
Thonbr-thrast, a thunder-clap, 554.
Thorps, hamlets, 1803.
Thra, violent, 554. 2282.
Thraly, violently, 371.
Thrawen, to die, 4453.
Thrang, thrust, 1427- See Thring.
Thrat, threatened, 529.
Threpe, to contend, 2048. 3126. 3643.
to affirm pertinaciously, 4424.
Thrill, to pierce, 224.
Thrill, a hole, 4074.
Thring, to press, 1436. 2282.
THRiSTBD,grew dark, 554. SeeTHESTER.
Throme, a multitude, a body of men,
3007. 3643.
Thrugh, a grave, 4453.
Thurt, behoved, 1461. See Tharve.
Tid, instructed ^ ? ) 1060.
T13T, went, 1060.
Tind, a tooth, 3908. 3926. 5134.
Tind, to kindle, 4180.
K K
Tind, closed, 2193.
Tine, small, 507*
Tine, to lose, 2683.
Tint, lost, 903.
Tire, to deliver (?) 2398.
Tite, soon, 693.
Titely, soon, 267.
Toly, to dye cloth, 43 3.
Toore, hardy, 5501.
Torfar, hardship, 1193. 1261. 3730.
4102.
Torkan, to apprehend imperfectly,
2967.
Traie, difficult, +710.
Tramme, an instrument, 127- 286.
1296.
Treyn, to draw, to go, 694.
Truches, thou truches, you are de-
ceived, 1988.
Tufe, ram’s ( ? ) 319.
Tulk, a man, 752. 1212. 1304. 2075.
2257. 2685. 4000. 5373.
Tulk ( ? ) 2427.
Tutb, to peep, 127. 694. 4776.
Twine, to separate, 760. 2750.
Twinlepi, twofold, 5014.
Umby, round about, 1154.
Umbythonred, surrounded, 3858.
Umclapp, to surround, 2473.
Umlap, to enclose, 920. 2134.
Umquile, formerly, 23.
Umse, to look around, 3729.
Underfang, to undertake, 910.
Unethes, scarcely, 709. 937*
Unhemed, uncontrouled, 2835.
Unhome ( ? ) 5531.
Unmetely, disproportionately, 321.
Unrid, cruel, severe, 460. 739. 871.
Unridely, cruelly, 638.
Unruydly, cruelly, 566.
Unsamen, not together, 605. See Sa-
men.
Digitized by boo? le
250
OLOSSARIAL INDEX,
Unsele, unhappiness, 4472.
Unthankes, against the will, 4699.
Unwetandly, unknowingly, 134.
Unwyn, pain, sorrow, 531.
Virre, glass, 4352.
Voyde, to remove, 122.
Wayfe, to remove, 297* 723. 822.
Wayke, to grow weak, 1006.
Wayne, to remove, to go, 945. 1176.
2431. 4692. 5135.
Wayne, to expect, 3427- 4657-
Wayryngle, an accursed being (?)
1706.
Wayte, to watch, to look closely, 59.
265. 700. 945. 956.
Wakrong, vigilant (?) 537.
Walde-eyed, wall-eyed, 608.
Wale, choice, excellent, 75. 827. 841.
Wale, to select, 1667*
Walow, to fade, 4628.
Walt, wielded, 838.
Wame, the belly, 386. 531. 538.
Wan, ceased, 3987-
Wand, to be afraid, 1411. 2723.
Wandreth, danger, 528.
Wane, a dwelling, 134. 3223.
Warische, to recover from an illness,
2811. 5607.
Warla 3E, an evil one, man or beast,
3796. 4426.
Warne, to refuse, 1467* 9468.
Warp. See Werp.
Wathe, danger, 119. 1103. 1411.
Wath-town, a town on a ford, 2150.
Wbde, to grow mad, 539.
Wee, a man, 24. 314. 4191.
Welk, walked, 4191.
Welken, the sky, 247.
Welt, to dash, 839.
Wemless, without spot, 4067.
Werd, destiny, 257. 270. 283.
Werde, the world, 18. 24. 1272 .
Were, to pain, 531.
Werk, pain, 539.
Werp, to cast, 557. 798. 1300. 5260; to
werp wordis, to speak, 202. 243.
Werstillare, a wrestler, 2287-
Werth, destiny, 520. See Werd.
Wete, to know, 241. 304.
Weterty, skilfully, 304.
Whon, a quantity, f353.
Wikke, wicked, +537*
Wild, to govern, 939.
Will, lost, wandering, 1272.
Willed, wandered, 2984. 4133.
Wilnede, desired, +150.
Wilsome, devious, 4077*
Wird, destiny, 41.
Wirling, a diminutive personage, 1706.
1733.
Wirstille, to wrestle, 2276.
Wissen, to indicate, 688.
Witter, knowing, 629.
Wlate, to disgust, 4278. 4635.
Wlonk, splendid, 5090.
Wode, mad, 1168. 3168. 5347.
Wodwose, a wild man, 1540.
Won, abundance, f499. +557* f575.
t678. f891. +957-
Wond, to depart from, +886. +957.
+990.
W on yn gstede, a place of residence,
3735.
Wont, dwelt, 134.
Worm, a serpent, 383.
Worths, to become, 103. 119. 378.
383. 691.
Wose, juice, 413.
Wrothirhaile, destruction, 1759.
Wra, a corner, 1585. 4191.
Wrenkis, tricks, 4366.
Digitized by boo? le
OLOS8ARIAL INDEX.
251
Jape, eager, 2201.
Japely, eagerly, quickly, 80.
Jare, to prepare, 80.
3 are, ready, 160.
Jarely, readily, 1035.
Jare-since, long ago, 1008.
Jark, to prepare, 114.
Jarmand, yelling, 4745.
Jedire ( ? ) 5043.
Jerand, screaming, 4745.
I Jerd, to give up the 3 erd, to submit to,
114. 761. I 813. 1035.
Jerne, anxiously, 457. 067.
Jerre ( ? ) 5043.
Jeten, melted, 607* 1107.
Josking, sobbing, 5043.
Joten, a giant, 4745.
Y, an egg, t769.
Ythes, waters, 1039. See Ithis.
Digitized by
Google
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